Students in the School of Public Health cross the commencement stage equipped with cutting edge skills and a passion for helping people. But like so many young people right now, what they don't always cross with is a job, especially one that matches their ambitions. Thanks to a long-held goal from Dean Boris Lushniak and two transformative donations from Deborah Rudy and the Pappas family, those outcomes are on track to change for the better.
"Interest in public health has exploded, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lushniak said. “We have a responsibility as educators to prepare our students to become successful in their careers, and as part of that, we need to expand our capacity to provide career coaching and professional networking opportunities."
To this end, Lushniak envisions establishing a Center for Career Development within the School of Public Health. Nearly 20 years ago, the school was launched without any bachelor's degree programs and the anticipation of reaching full enrollment capacity of 700 students within seven years. Today, the school administers seven bachelor's degree programs, six master's degree programs (including nine concentrations of the Master's of Public Health) and nine doctoral degree programs. While staff has been added over time to support career development, a formal school-based structure, accessible to all students, would enable SPH students to get more tailored help and opportunities, aligning staff roles and coordinating employer engagement.
The school's goal is to raise $500,000 in the near-term to put the structure in place, and another $4.5M to fully fund the center's staff and activities. Two recent gifts, totaling $350,000, have anchored that effort. Deborah Rudy ’73 and the Pappas family–Greg, Kimberly and Emily ’22–have made these leadership gifts.
These donations support Forward: the University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless, the largest fundraising initiative in the university’s history, with a goal to raise $2.5 billion to increase access to education, spur research breakthroughs and build stronger communities.
Both Rudy and the Pappas family began their SPH support creating Maryland Promise Program scholarships earmarked for SPH students. And both see their gifts to the Center for Career Development as a natural extension of their earlier philanthropy.
The first MPP student Rudy supports is expected to graduate in May 2027. "I’m thrilled that the scholarship will help the current recipient earn his degree in May, but I’m also looking forward to providing support to help SPH graduates secure positions where they can use their knowledge and skills to work on public health issues in their communities,” she said.
Rudy’s endowed fund will fund students' expenses related to their internship, job hunting or professional networking activities. Students will be able to travel to work or interviews, purchase professional attire, pay for rent during an internship, attend industry conferences and more.
She is eager to facilitate the vision of Dean Boris Lushniak by supporting what he deems most necessary. “I can remember back to my working days. There were so many times when we had money to do X but not the thing that really would have made X fly. For example, we were able to finally hire a new staff member but couldn't find resources to support needed training or travel. Those kinds of resources could have really amplified their effectiveness,” said Rudy. “It made me appreciate how important it is to have access to what my old boss would have called ‘glue money,’” said Rudy.
For their part, the Pappas family, including SPH alumna Emily Pappas ’22, wants to give more students the opportunities they need to be successful the way Emily has been. The family’s MPP scholarship opens access to a Maryland education. Their SPH career center donation will focus on the outcome of a degree: employment or post-graduate work.
“Emily had a great experience and a great outcome. We felt like we got great value from our education investment,” said Greg Pappas. After Emily Pappas received her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from UMD, she earned a doctorate in physical therapy from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and now works as a physical therapist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Florida. “We wanted her success to be replicated with other students who would benefit from the support,” said Greg Pappas.
Emily Pappas was quick to point out that SPH did provide career services for people during her time there. She found career fairs particularly useful. “The professors were very available, and so I think the resources were there if you needed them [but] maybe they weren't easy to find. This venture makes things more accessible for students,” she said.
SPH’s greater career development services will benefit all students, but particularly those who come from backgrounds with fewer resources. “A career office will also help students with coaching as far as interview prep and resume-building. That's something you're not going to get at a career fair, but it's pretty vital, especially if you are a first-generation student,” said Kimberly Pappas.
Lushniak is grateful to Rudy and the Pappas family for their support. “Deb, Greg, Kim and Emily are investing in the essential link between the education our students get in the classroom and its application in the real world,” said Lushniak. “For many of our students, simply getting into college is a dream and paying for it is a stretch. This support will greatly aid in their next step as they transition into the workforce, and it will ensure that we can provide them with every opportunity to explore and succeed."
If you are interested in making a gift to support the SPH Center for Career Development, please visit go.umd.edu/sph_careers.