This fall, a new group of accomplished professionals brings a wealth of experience, energy, and vision to the School of Public Health’s 2024-26 Alumni Network Board, with a renewed focus on engaging Alumni communities near and far.
As president, Jennifer Clerie, B.S. '16, MBA, a senior data manager at the Emmes Company, is passionate about getting her fellow alumni connected to valuable experiences, colleagues and opportunities. Clerie, who has built a career dedicated to innovation and doing public health good, attributes much of her professional success to the foundational skills she developed during her time at SPH, such as a capstone internship at the UMD School of Medicine and essential research methods coursework.
Clerie’s vision is to foster a stronger, more connected alumni community. Beyond traditional academic events she plans to create a dynamic platform where alumni can engage, learn, and contribute.
“My goal is to cultivate relationships with alumni by capitalizing on existing events and introducing new initiatives, such as introducing new programming outside of academic events that allow alumni to get together, socialize, and network” she says.
Popular alumni activities currently include Terrapin Perspectives, a series of virtual meetups with experts discussing pressing public health topics, and the Public Health Emerging and Engaging Leaders (PHEEL) Awards, which recognize outstanding graduates who earned an SPH degree in the last ten years and made huge contributions to public health. In addition to these initiatives, the board oversees the SPH Student and Alumni Mentor Program that enables alumni to share their professional expertise and personal experience with current School of Public Health students. Six years into the program, we’ve learnt that the connections made in the program help prepare SPH’s students for a successful future and leave a lasting impact on UMD’s campus community.
Several other distinguished alumni bring unique expertise to the board, all with a strong commitment to public health. Christopher Silayan DeVore, B.S. '14, MPH, vice president, combines his experience in legislative affairs with a passion for health policy and advocating for community health plans. Jameson Roth, B.S. '17, board secretary, will galvanise her experience in strategic communications and outreach to foster a vibrant alumni community. Aparna Pooleri, B.S. '19, treasurer, comes to the table with experience in public health and business process improvement, including projects such as emergency response and health literacy initiatives.
With Clerie’s leadership and an energized new team, alumni can expect more interactive events and opportunities for mentorship, networking, and professional development. Stay tuned to the Alumni Network Board page for updates, events, and ways to get involved.