We are incredibly proud of all of our graduates! We know they go on to build a healthier, happier, more equitable world. With these graduating student profile stories, we extend special recognition to a few of our Spring 2024 graduates to highlight what they have accomplished and where they are going.
While we want to recognize all of our amazing graduates, we give special recognition to a few. Please explore our graduating student profile stories below. Many of these students won awards such as the Public Health Service Award or the Student Life Award. We thank them for all they did as students for our college and our communities!
Undergraduate Students
Chanda Jones
BS Public Health, One Health
Chanda Jones, graduated Summa Cum Laude this spring 2024 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health with an emphasis in One Health. Throughout her academic journey, Chanda has demonstrated excellence and dedication in her contributions to her community. She made a significant impact during her internship at the University of New Mexico Hospital where she played a critical role in developing protocols to prevent C. diff infections. For her contributions and dedication to public health, Chanda received the 2024 Outstanding Online Senior Award.
Sage Liu
BS Public Health, Global Health
Sage Liu graduated this Spring 2024 as a dual degree student earning a BS in Public Health with an emphasis in Global Health, and a BSHS in Physiology and Medicine with a minor in Public Health. Her passion for health equity led her to intern with TruLite Health and Health Connectors, to volunteer for the Mobile Health Unit, and to serve as a Public Health Ambassador. For her dedication to serving others and building health equity, Sage won the undergraduate 2024 Public Health Service Award from the college.
Jaiden Singh
BS Public Health, Health Systems Theory & Practice
Jaiden Singh graduated this Spring 2024 as a dual degree student with a BS in Public Health with an emphasis in Health Systems Theory and Practice, and a BA in Law with a minor in Spanish. Jaiden worked as an intern for the Pima County Health Department where he focused on health policy. The experience inspired him to pursue his law degree so he can promote effective health policies. Jaiden also contributed many volunteer hours inside and outside the university, and his success and service was recognized with the Outstanding Senior Award.
Graduate Students
Kerry Johnson
MPH, Health Behavior Health Promotion
Kerry Johnson graduated this spring with her MPH with a concentration in Health Behavior and Health Promotion. She completed her MPH internship with the Southeast Arizona Health Education Center where she conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis for a community health worker program, and she currently works with the Arizona Prevention Research Center’s Participatory Evaluation Institute as the evaluation lead for the THRIVE program for adolescent health run by Campesinos Sin Fronteras in San Luis, AZ. For her contributions and dedication to so many public health programs and projects, Kerry received the 2024 Outstanding MPH Graduate Award.
Cody Welty
MSPH & PhD, Health Behavior Health Promotion
Cody Welty graduated this spring with his MSPH and PhD in Health Behavior and Health Promotion. He brought a commitment to promoting adolescent mental health and suicide prevention to his educational journey and contributed to many projects and events within the college, even as he gained knowledge and experience through a range of jobs and internships. He currently works as the Program Manager for the Arizona Health Navigators at the Arizona Center for Rural Health. For his dedication to public health and the college community, Cody received the graduate 2024 Student Life Award.
Samantha Werts-Pelter
PhD, Health Behavior Health Promotion
Samantha Werts-Pelter, MPH, graduated this Spring 2024 with her PhD in Health Behavior and Health Promotion. Focused on programs and research that serve community needs, Dr. Werts-Pelter worked with the Arizona Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network and also served as a study coordinator for the University of Arizona Cancer Health Equity Research Center while earning her degree. Actively involved with student projects and committees, Samantha also won the graduate Student Life Award.
