Colorado School of Public Health

ColoradoSPH Students Graduate, Receive Honors

Written by Colorado School of Public Health | May 21, 2024

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

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