School of Public Health News
Youth learn the health benefits of time spent in nature
This summer, Dr. Jennifer D. Roberts brought her research on nature, physical activity and health equity directly to the community with a new summer camp aiming to get high schoolers into green spaces in Buffalo, NY. The camp, called BET In FLO (Buffalo Eastside Teens in Frederick Law Olmsted Parks)...
Community through pickleball
When freshmen arrive at the University of Maryland (UMD), they’re placed in orientation classes designed to ease the transition into college life. But transfer students, many of whom come from two-year colleges and have already earned associate’s degrees, are often navigating a new campus, major req...
Spotlight: Samantha Snyder, PhD '25
Dr. Samantha Snyder, Ph.D. ’25, has always been interested in human movement. With a freshly minted doctorate in kinesiology from the School of Public Health, Snyder is wasting no time, already applying her diverse skills to make a difference for people with knee osteoarthritis, a common and painful...
2025 Whitlark Scholarship awardee to research heart health
Growing up, Zach Mixer loved fitness – playing sports from soccer to martial arts and spending time weight training. Just as enthusiastic about sports and fitness now, Mixer has won the School of Public Health’s 2025 Whitlark Scholarship that supports kinesiology students transferring from a Marylan...
Gymkana Home Show inspires movement, builds community
Starting April 4, the UMD School of Public Health will host the Gymkana Home Show, featuring traditional gymnastic acts and circus-like performances. Gymkana is an SPH outreach program where UMD students from across all majors and athletic capabilities travel to schools and perform gymnastics at ass...
Spotlight: Dillon Balkin '14
A love for sports and a passion for helping others were the twin drivers behind alumni Dr. Dillon Balkin’s career. Today, he's living his dream as one of the NFL’s go-to chiropractors, working with elite players like Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, and caring for everyday at...
Brain Waves and Basketballs
Watch Kiersten Janjigian discussing her basketball experiment on the School of Public Health's Instagram page.
SPH undergraduates bring energy to health equity
Among the fun and games at Boris' Block Party - the close to this year's School of Public Health Welcome Week - we caught up with some SPH undergraduates to hear why they chose to study public health and what they hope to do and be in the future! Many of our undergraduates are keenly aware of inequi...
Spotlight on Vonai Moyo '13
Vonai Moyo '13 knew her dual passions from the start— as a child she dreamed of becoming a pediatrician and since the first grade she devoted herself to gymnastics. At UMD’s School of Public Health (SPH) she nurtured these two loves and transformed them into two dynamic careers: working as a physic...
Honoring SPH's extraordinary faculty and staff
Congratulations to SPH faculty and staff who received annual awards honoring outstanding teaching, public health practice, service, mentoring and commitment to the school’s success and community during the 2023-2024 academic year!