On May 20, more than 250 students were recognized in the Colorado School of Public Health convocation ceremony with MPH, MS, DrPH, and PhD degrees.
The convocation recognized students graduating in May 2024, as well as those from December and August from 2023.
In addition, many of these same students were honored at the school’s awards banquet on May 16, along with staff, faculty, and community partners.
More than 150 faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners from the three ColoradoSPH campuses—CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado State University, and University of Northern Colorado, were in attendance at the awards banquet, and about 30 people were recognized with awards, induction into the Delta Omega honor society, as Colorado Public Health Association Emerging Schools, and more.
Also recognized were those who were honored by the University of Colorado System. This year, Ned Calonge, MD, MPH, received CU’s Distinguished Service Award, Alison Bauer, PhD, received the Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award, and Megan Cherewick, PhD, MPH, received the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
Among the ColoradoSPH chapter’s newly inducted Delta Omega members, Dr. Rachel Herlihy, State Epidemiologist and Chief Medical Officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, was named the honorary inductee of 2024.
Additionally, ColoradoSPH recognized three recipients of this year’s Dean’s Special Recognition Award. 2024 honorees included Gary Heise, PhD, Interim Director of ColoradoSPH at UNC and professor, and Dani Brittain, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, for their many years of service to ColoradoSPH; and Michelle D. Bell, PhD, a higher education and accreditation specialist, for her contributions to the field of public health and to the school.
See the full list of this year’s outstanding faculty, staff, student, alumni, and community honorees below.
Colorado School of Public Health’s Annual Awards
Dean’s Special Recognition Award
Dani Brittain, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Professor, Department of Community & Behavioral Health
Gary Heise, PhD, Interim Director of ColoradoSPH at UNC and Professor, Department of Community & Behavioral Health, UNC
Michelle Bell, MPH, Higher Education and Accreditation Specialist
Faculty Excellence in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Molly Gutilla, DrPh, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, CSU
Faculty Excellence in Teaching
Dannon Cox, PhD, Assistant Professor, UNC
Faculty Excellence in Research
Thomas Jaenisch, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Center for Global Health, Department of Epidemiology
Faculty Excellence in Student Mentoring
Patricia Valverde, PhD, MPH, Interim Director, Latin Research & Policy Center Clinical Assistant Professor, Director, Patient Navigator Training Collaborative
Faculty Excellence in Public Health Practice
Heather Kennedy, PhD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor, Program Manager Hub for Justice-Centered Youth Engagement
Outstanding Staff-PRA Recognition Award
Tony Romero, MA
Neeloo Soleimanpour, MPH
Michele Kimminau, BA
Katie Maroun, MSW
Outstanding Contribution by a Student
CU Anschutz- Hannah Kisselburgh
CSU- Hannah Dunlop
UNC- Madison Waple
Student Excellence in Public Health Practice
Dayana Leyva
Syd Staggs Advocacy Award
Liz Baylon Trejo
Colorado School of Public Health’s Alumni Awards
Alumni Achievement Award
Sarah Lampe, MPH, ‘09
Alumni Rising Star in Public Health Practice Award
Morgan Turner, MPH, ‘21
Alumni Service Award
Kelly (KC) Hall, MPH, ‘16
Colorado School of Public Health’s Community Awards
Community Preceptor for Excellence in Public Health Practice Award
Cynthia Hazel, DrPH, ’19, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Gyedi Project
Community Partner Award for Public Health Practice
Tom Gonzalez, MPH, Director of Larimer County Department of Health and Environment
University of Colorado Annual Awards
Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award
Alison Bauer, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
President’s Excellence in Teaching Award
Megan Cherewick, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Community & Behavioral Health, Center for Global Health
Distinguished Service Award
Ned Calonge, MD, MPH, Associate Dean for Public Health Practice, CMO, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
