Celebrating 15 Years of Impact
Message from the Dean
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the College of Public Health, and I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and pride as we celebrate this significant milestone in our history with all who have been part of the college’s journey.
In 2009, the College of Public Health was established as the first school of public health in Ohio to offer a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, addressing the shortage of professionals throughout the state and across the nation. Since opening its doors, the college has continually strived to be at the forefront of public health, playing an important role in educating the next generation of servant leaders, while making a lasting impact in the lives and the health of our communities.
During the past 15 years, we have fulfilled our mission and trained nearly 3,000 leaders, scientists, and practitioners in conducting impactful research and engaging in practice to solve public health challenges. We have built relationships and collaborated with more than 300 organizations, locally, nationally and internationally.
Since its inception, the College of Public Health has built upon its beginnings to now offer more than ten specialized degrees, certificates, and programs that meet the needs of our students and our community. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of our faculty and staff, and with the invaluable support of our partner organizations, we are training epidemiologists, environmental health specialists, health program managers, clinical trials coordinators, academic faculty members, and many other highly skilled public health professionals who are making a difference in the field every day.
Our constant commitment to excellence in providing high-quality, affordable education has been recognized by Fortune, which included the college in its list of “Best Online Master’s in Public Health (MPH) Programs for 2025.” I’m honored to see our online MPH recognized as one of the top 10 programs in the country, and I am filled with gratitude for all the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends who have contributed to our growth and success over the years.
I invite all of you to join us in celebrating the 15th anniversary of the college throughout the next year. We will have multiple events and opportunities to commemorate our community of passionate professionals who work together to shape the field of public health. We welcome your involvement, now and beyond this special year; because, as we celebrate our history, your contribution is vital to shape a brighter future.
Here’s to 15 years and to many more in making an impact in our communities!
Yours in good health,
Sonia Alemagno
Dean, College of Public Health
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Faces of CPH
Christine Woo, Ph.D, and Nathalie Nicol, BSPH
Like mother, like daughter. Meet Christine Woo, Ph.D, and Nathalie Nicol, BSPH – mother and daughter - both graduates of the Kent State University College of Public Health. While Woo was completing her doctorate in 2022, Nicol was just starting her journey at Kent State. “Our time together at Kent State overlapped just at the very end, as mom was finishing up her Ph.D and I was a freshman just getting started in public health,” says Nicol.
Don’Marie Reid
When Don’Marie Reid enrolled in Kent State University four years ago, she was on a mission to prepare for a career as a pediatrician, to become a role model for her peers, and to make the LeBron James Family Foundation proud. When she graduated from Kent State as a member of the first cohort of the I Promise program, Reid walked across the stage knowing that she had achieved her mission and so much more.
Jaime Shuster, Ph.D.
Blending her passion for storytelling with a dedication to healthcare, Jaime Shuster, Ph.D., has blazed a unique career path leading to her current position as research program manager in orthopedics and sports medicine at the Cleveland Clinic main campus.
Caroline Matyas, BSPH
Caroline Matyas, BSPH, discovered her passion for clinical trials and is now working as a research coordinator in the dermatology field. In the United States, clinical trials continue to be a major strategy for facilitating positive outcomes in both public health and healthcare. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), clinical trials are defined as a type of research that studies new tests and treatments and evaluates their effects on human health outcomes. People volunteer to take part in clinical trials to test medical interventions including drugs, cells, and other biological products, surgical procedures, radiological procedures, devices, behavioral treatments and preventive care.
Victoria Bylsma
Victoria Bylsma said it only took about two hours after a mentor suggested she look into a graduate degree in public health to know what she wanted to do with her career. Today, the Kent State University Master of Public Health graduate helps to protect service members’ health and readiness as an injury epidemiologist at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio.
Alan Talarczyk
In high school, Alan Talarczyk thought he wanted to be a diesel mechanic. No one in his family had ever gone to college, and all of them had done well. His father, a tool and die maker, has been with the same manufacturing company for more than 40 years. His mother, a Ukrainian immigrant, started her own successful cleaning business.
Celebrate With Us by Making an Impact
Show your College of Public Health pride and make an impact. Your gift in honor of the 15th anniversary will go to the College of Public Health Scholarship Fund, providing support for current and future generations of CPH students.
You will also receive exclusive CPH 15th anniversary swag.