In a small village in the lush blue-green hills of Tanzania’s southern highlands, farmers are sharing their biggest challenges with a group of graduate students from University of Maryland. 

As an incoming freshman, Jessica Stanley was unsure of her career path. What she knew for certain was that she was interested in the healthcare field. Growing up in Connecticut, Stanley, now 21 and a senior, comes from a healthcare-oriented family, which influenced her decision to follow suit. 

Helping people has always been central to Jenny Lee’s life. Growing up with cerebral palsy — a neurological disorder that affects movement — Lee said that many people assumed she needed help. However, what most people didn’t know is that Lee, who is Korean, took on the role of her “family's representative” from age 12, translating important medical documents and other materials to her parents who didn't speak English.

Mia Owens’ younger brother, who was born premature, displayed symptoms of autism growing up. However, despite visiting multiple doctors, he wasn’t offered a diagnosis until his teenage years.  

After being inspired by her own teaching assistants, family science major Shawntay Brown wanted to give back to her public health community – to help students the same way she was helped. So the senior became an undergraduate teaching assistant, or UTA.

This week, the School of Public Health celebrated its 2024 Winter graduates with  students, faculty and staff joining together on Dec. 10 to commemorate the new graduates’ achievements and honor their milestone. 

“Every time I talk with our SPH graduating students, I am so heartened by the intellect, compassion and skills they’re bringing to the world of public health,” said SPH Dean Boris Lushniak. “This year’s graduates are going out into the world ready to be leaders, to do public health good. I can’t wait to see all that I know they will accomplish.”

This week Fortune magazine named the University of Maryland School of Public Health’s online master’s in public health program the best in the nation for 2025.

Esohe Owie came with her family to Maryland from Lagos, Nigeria in her early teens, the eldest of three siblings. Adjusting to this new world was challenging, especially when – just a few years later – she needed to navigate an unfamiliar college system.

Cole Hershman’s high school calculus teacher introduced “L'Hôpital's rule” by showing it featured in the movie “Mean Girls.” She pushed him and his classmates to take the hardest course they could before college to challenge themselves, and she was reliably in her classroom smiling whenever they needed advice.

Even now, as Hershman prepares to graduate from the University of Maryland as one of its top students, her adaptation of a Jiminy Cricket song title, “Always Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide,” is still floating around in his head.

A few weeks from a contentious election that is raising as many emotions as policy points, important issues affecting families are on state ballots across the country as well as in presidential candidates’ platforms.