Nearly 100 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the school tuned out for the Colorado School of Public Health annual alumni awards last week.
The night was a celebration honoring key students, faculty, Dean’s honorees, Delta Omega inductees, and distinguished alumni.
For the fifth year in a row, the alumni awards’ celebrated public health work and advances in global health, child and maternal health, and rural health, to name a few.
Dr. Susan Niermeyer, MD, MPH, a pioneer in global maternal health, who received the alumni achievement award, spoke about her experience going back to school as an adult, mid-career, and as a physician. She was part of the Colorado School of Public Health’s inaugural class. As a doctor who specialized in neonatal health, she realized she and other individual practitioners needed to “address factors up the perinatal causal chain, including broader social and structural factors, to prevent problems,” hence her decision to go back to school
The public health lens helped her broaden her understanding of, and impact on global maternal health.
“I hope we can realize a new meaning for global health. We are all in this together – and we need to learn from one another how best to achieve health and wellbeing for our populations,” she said.
Other recipients spoke of the collaboration and willingness to work together they experienced as students, then alumni, of the school.
View photos from the event here or on Flickr.
Colorado School of Public Health 2026 Awards
Dean’s Special Recognition
Dean’s Recognition Award for Faculty Excellence
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Cerise Hunt, PhD, MSW | Colorado School of Public Health, Community & Behavioral Health & Office of Leadership Excellence
Dean’s Recognition Award for Advancing Public Health Sciences
- George Sparks, MS | President & CEO, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Dean’s Recognition Award for Leadership & Service
- Judith Albino, PhD | University of Colorado President Emerita & Professor Emerita of Public Health
Dean’s Recognition Award for Philanthropy in Public Health
- Rose Community Foundation
Student Awards
Outstanding Contribution by a Student
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Dorah Labette | University of Colorado Anschutz
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Dania Furuya | Colorado State University
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Hannah Wilson | University of Northern Colorado
Student Excellence in Public Health Practice
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Shenazar Esmundo
Syd Staggs Advocacy
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Karla Guerra Santos
Alumni awards
Alumni Achievement
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Susan Niermeyer, MD, MPH ’09
Alumni Rising Star in Public Health Practice
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Sunghyun Chung, MPH ’22
Alumni Service
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Christa Timmerman, MPH ’17
University of Colorado Anschutz
Chancellor's Teaching Recognition Awards
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Alex Kaizer, PhD | Biostatistics & Informatics
President's Excellence in Teaching Award
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Richard Lindrooth, PhD, MA | Health Systems, Management & Policy
Chancellor's Outstanding Staff & Supervisor Award
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Katherine Brumfield, MA | Central Administration, Office of Academic & Student Affairs
Faculty Retirees
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Elizabeth Gilbert, EdD | Professor, Community & Behavioral Health
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Christopher Melby, DrPH, MPH, MA | Professor, Epidemiology
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Mary Morrow, MS | Sr. Research Scientist, Biostatistics & Informatics
Promotions
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Antonio Porras Perez | Associate Professor with Tenure, Biostatistics & Informatics
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Alison Bauer, PhD, BS, ATSF | Award of Tenure, Environmental & Occupational Health
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Natalie Schwatka, PhD, MS| Associate Professor with Tenure, Environmental & Occupational Health
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Joan O'Connell, PhD | Professor, Community & Behavioral Health, Centers for American Indian & Alaska Native Health
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Naomi Perlman, MPH, BS | Senior Professional Research Assistant Level 2, Centers for Health, Work, & Environment
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Monica Fitzgerald, MPH| Senior Professional Research Assistant Level 3, Centers for American Indian & Alaska Native Health
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Claudia Kramer | Professional Research Assistant Level 2, Centers for American Indian & Alaska Native Health
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Madison Goering, MSW, MPH | Senior Professional Research Assistant Level 2, Centers for Health, Work, & Environment
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Elinor Hegarty, MA | Senior Professional Research Assistant Level 2, Community & Behavioral Health
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Eleanor Cotton, MS | Senior Instructor, Biostatistics & Informatics
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Chelsea Wesner, DrPH, MPH, MSW | Assistant Research Professor, Biostatistics & Informatics
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Erin Wright-Kelly, DrPH, MA | Assistant Professor, C/T, Community & Behavioral Health, Injury & Violence Prevention Center
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Kristina Kaparich Hightshoe, MSPH | Senior Research Scientist, Epidemiology
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Charlotte Farewell, PhD, MPH| Research Associate Professor, Community & Behavioral Health
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Jini Puma, PhD| Professor, Clinical Teaching Track, Community & Behavioral Health
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Liliana Tenney, DrPH, MPH | Associate Professor, Clinical Teaching Track, Environmental & Occupational Health
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Elizabeth Juarez-Colunga, PhD | Tenured Professor, Biostatistics & Informatics
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Zachary Giano, PhD, MA | Assistant Professor, Clinical Teaching Track, Biostatistics & Informatics, Center for Innovative Design & Analysis
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Adane Wogu, PhD | Assistant Professor, Clinical Teaching Track, Biostatistics & Informatics, Center for Innovative Design & Analysis
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Diana Abbott, PhD | Assistant Professor, Clinical Teaching Track, Biostatistics & Informatics, Center for Innovative Design & Analysis
