The University of Maryland School of Public Health (UMD SPH) honored four people making exceptional contributions to public health at its Spring Soirée on April 16 at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union. 

The School of Public Health (SPH) Alumni Network is proud to recognize four outstanding recent graduates with the Public Health Emerging and Engaging Leaders (PHEEL) Award. The PHEEL Award honors SPH graduates who have received a degree within the last 10 years and have demonstrated excellence in career progression, service, and leadership.

Brooks Barlow Kenny ’95 got her first taste of pickleball a few years ago, and quickly understood why the sport that sounds like a snack was the fastest-growing in the nation: It’s easy to learn, accessible for many age groups, fast-paced and fun. For the longtime health advocate, that all added up to another savory benefit: boosting—and even protecting—the brain.

Jill Whitall and Jane Clark never do anything halfway. From Whitall’s earliest days as a graduate student and Clark’s start as a rising faculty member, they poured themselves fully into the University of Maryland. Each step built on the last: teaching led to leadership, leadership to advocacy, and advocacy to philanthropy.

As a young man, Cory Easton knew he wanted to work in health care and help a lot of people, but he didn’t feel he had the academic chops to be a doctor. So he became more interested in the business of health and, ultimately, in how to ensure people got the medicine they needed at the right time, for the right reasons and at the right price.

This Spring, UMD School of Public Health (SPH) recognized four outstanding members of the community with its highest honor – the Distinguished Terrapin Award.

The School of Public Health (SPH) Alumni Network awarded the Public Health Emerging and Engaging Leaders (PHEEL) Award to seven outstanding recent graduates in April 2025. Each honoree was selected for their excellence in their career progression, service and leadership. 

From shaping national health policy to running a food company that brings communities together through Filipino cuisine, Christopher Silayan DeVore ’14 is a testament to the versatility of a public health degree. With a passion for legislative advocacy and a deep commitment to cultural connection, DeVore has built a career that integrates policy, public service, and entrepreneurship.

Whether in a hospital or a classroom, these doctors have always been driven by a shared passion for public health, medical research and practice, and mentorship. So when Bradley Boekeloo, Ph.D., retired from a distinguished career at UMD’s School of Public Health (SPH), he and his partner Stanley Drake, M.D., made another big commitment together: they established at SPH the Bradley O. Boekeloo, Ph.D. and Stanley D. Drake, M.D.

Alvin M. Powers is no stranger to hard work. A visionary leader in the healthcare industry, he built a legacy that extended far beyond business success. Powers dedicated his life to improving the lives of others, and with that, came an unwavering belief in the transformative power of education. Upon his passing in November 2023 at age 89, his family and friends established the Alvin M.