After a family member’s struggle with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, improving mental health became a personal passion for sophomore family science major Alisha Hussain, a 2025 Kara

Applying for college, Noa Blumenthal was unsure if she wanted to take the pre-med track. She knew she wanted a major that provided flexibility to gain essential skills to keep the option of a medical degree or other health career open.

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.