SPH Alumni Board

The SPH Alumni Society Board leads ongoing efforts to provide lifelong learning, networking and growth opportunities for our alumni.

Mission
Build an alumni centered culture within the SPH community by fostering connections among alumni, faculty and students.

Vision
Alumni will enjoy lifelong engagement and pride in the SPH and will actively support endeavors of the school and fellow alumni.

Goals

Connect. Create opportunities for meaningful connections between alumni, faculty/staff, students and professional partners.
Develop. Foster a community of engaged alumni and students.
Recognize. Acknowledge and honor the achievements of SPH alumni and students.
Collaborate. Work together to make a positive impact in public health to advance the SPH brand and the value of a public health degree.

Our work includes alumni and volunteer engagement, student engagement and support, alumni recognition, and advocacy for University legislative requests.

Alumni and friends of the school are invited to attend SPH Alumni Society Board meetings. Contact sph-alum@umn.edu for more details.

SPH Alumni Society Board of Directors

2022-2023 Executive Officers

President
Susan Leppke, MPH ’07 (public health administration and policy)
AABB
Senior Director, Public Policy & Strategic Partnerships

Vice President
Maria Bitanga, MPH ’16 (public health administration and policy)
Allina Health
Performance Improvement Advisor

Past President
Liesl Hargens, MPH ’07 (epidemiology)
Boston Scientific
Senior Director of Health Economics

Secretary
Alicen Burns Spaulding, PhD ’13 (epidemiology)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Senior Advisor and Team Lead, PREMISE

Treasurer
Kim McCoy, MS ’07 (health services research, policy & administration)
Stratis Health
Senior Program Manager

At-Large Directors

Sonja Ausen MPH ’17 (maternal and children health)
Picture Impact
Director of Operations

Palak Bothra MPH ’18
University of Minnesota
Dental Data Analyst

Tim Fries MPH ’20
Optometric Management Group
Chief Visionary Officer/Partner

Barbara Greene, MPH ’85 (community health education)
Barbara Greene & Associates
Senior Consultant

Senka Hadzic, MPH ’08 (public health administration & policy)
Stratis Health
Program Manager

Heidi Hamilton MPH ’02
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Community Living Supports Manager

Jessica Kinowski, MPH ’06 (community health education)
Cigna HealthSpring
Clinical Program Director

Deb Moses, MPH ’90 (public health administration)
Temple Isaiah
Executive Director

Monica Palese, MPH ’15 (public health administration and policy)
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Lymphoma Project Manager

Deborah Caselton Trahan, MPH ’09 (maternal & child health)
Mayo Clinic
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Raymond Thron, PhD ’75, MS ’71 (environmental health)
Laureate Education
Professor

Ania Urban, PhD ’12, MPH ’09 (environmental health)
Cardno ChemRisk
Senior Supervising Health Scientist

Stephen Waldhoff, MHA ’76
Mayo Clinic
Emeritus Chief Administrative Officer

Heather Weinreich, MPH ’05 (epidemiology)
University of Illinois at Chicago
Assistant Professor

Lori Wukawitz, MHA ’19
Boston Scientific
Senior Manager, Health Economics and Market Access

Past Board Members

Thank you to these and countless other alumni who have participated as members of the SPH Alumni Society Board. If you served on the board and don’t see your name listed here, please email sph-alum@umn.edu.

James G. Anderson, MHA ’68
Ken Bence, MHA ’92
Lindsay Bengtson, PhD ’13, MPH ’09 (epidemiology)
Lynn Blewett, PhD ’92
Imee Cambronero, MPH ’09 (maternal & child health)
Jerry Campbell, MHA ’76
Malini DeSilva, MPH ’08 (public health practice)
Shelly Espinosa, MPH ’99 (maternal & child health)
Chelsea Georgesen, MPH ’12 (public health administration and policy)
Kathy Harriman, PhD ’04 (environmental health)
Melinda Hexum, MS ’09 (environmental health)
Christopher Kim, MPH ’15 (environmental health)
Carrie Klumb, MPH ’09 (environmental health)
Anne Kollmeyer, MPH ’84 (public health nutrition)
Larry Kuusisto, PhD, MS ’10 (health services research, policy & administration)
Amy Becker LaFrance, MPH ’06 (public health policy)
Lara Lamprecht, MPH ’99 (community health education)
Angie Lillehei, RN, MPH ’84 (public health nursing)
Craig Meyer, PhD ’16, MS ’13, MPH ’10 (biostatistics, environmental health)
Ron Pearson, MS ’85 (environmental health)
Laura Perdue, MPH ’12 (public health nutrition)
Jennifer Pierquet, MPH ’07 (public health administration)
Lisa Pogoff, MPH/MSW ’85 (health education)
David Radosevich, MPH ’82, PhD ’91 (epidemiology)
Charlotte Sortedahl, MPH ’07 (environmental health)
Michael Trujillo, MPH ’84 (public health administration & policy)
Katherine Waters, DVM, MPH ’07 (public health practice)
Susan Wyatt, MPH ’14 (maternal & child health)
Elliott Wortham, MHA ’15
Karen Wick, MPH ’94
Rebecca Sales, MPH ’15

Meeting Minutes and Governing Documents

Alumni Society Constitution & Bylaws (PDF)

Meeting Minutes

Alumni Society Board Standing Committees

All SPH alumni are invited to get involved by serving on a leadership committee of the board. If you are interested, please contact the staff person listed below.

Engagement Committee
The Engagement Committee is responsible for Alumni & Volunteer Engagement, including planning alumni events such as Eat Learn Gather, Healthy Spirits and the Alumni Welcome Picnic. The committee also works to provide opportunities for alumni to volunteer for and with the School. Contact sph-alum@umn.edu.

Mentoring Committee
The Mentoring Committee was created to support the School’s annual Mentor Program in terms of providing assistance with the recruitment of mentors and the matching process, as well as providing additional content and support for the Program’s participants. Volunteers on this committee also work on programming that connects alumni and students, especially virtual opportunities. Contact phmentor@umn.edu.