SPH Alumni Society
Since its inception in 1982, the School of Public Health Alumni Society has worked to serve alumni and students, promote excellence in programs, and advance public health efforts in our community and in the world. The society’s first elected board of directors convened in September 1983. The board has been active for more than 40 years with a mission to build an alumni-centered culture within the SPH community by fostering connections among alumni, faculty, and students.
SPH Alumni Board
The SPH Alumni Society Board leads ongoing efforts to provide lifelong learning, networking and growth opportunities for our alumni.
Mission
Build an alumni centered culture within the SPH community by fostering connections among alumni, faculty and students.
Vision
Alumni will enjoy lifelong engagement and pride in the SPH and will actively support endeavors of the school and fellow alumni.
Goals
- Connect – Create opportunities for meaningful connections between alumni, faculty/staff, students and professional partners.
- Develop – Foster a community of engaged alumni and students.
- Recognize – Acknowledge and honor the achievements of SPH alumni and students.
- Collaborate – Work together to make a positive impact in public health to advance the SPH brand and the value of a public health degree.
Our work includes engaging alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of SPH through events, volunteer opportunities, programs, awards, lifelong learning, and more.
Contact sph-alum@umn.edu for more details.
2024-2025 Executive Officers
President
Kim McCoy, MS ’07 (health services research, policy & administration)
Stratis Health
Senior Program Manager
Minneapolis, MN
Vice-President
Alumni Ambassadors Committee Co-Chair
Sonja Ausen MPH ’17 (maternal and children health)
Picture Impact
Director of Operations
Minneapolis, MN
Past President
Susan Leppke, MPH ’07 (public health administration and policy)
AABB
Senior Director, Public Policy & Strategic Partnerships
Minneapolis, MN
Secretary
Alumni Ambassadors Committee Co-Chair
Olusola Adegoke, MPH ‘11 (public health administration and policy)
HealthPartners
Family Medicine Hospitalist
Stillwater, MN
Engagement Committee Chair
Deborah Caselton Trahan, MPH ’09 (maternal & child health)
ThedaCare
Registered Nurse
Education and Practice Specialist
Sherwood, WI
Mentor Committee Chair
Kari Moore, MPH ‘04 (community health education)
White Bear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
Oakdale, MN
At-Large Directors
Elizabeth Allen, MPH ‘11, PhD ‘14 (environmental health)
St. Catherine University
Associate Professor
Saint Paul, MN
Jill Dreyfus, PhD ‘13 (epidemiology)
Innovation Consortium
Senior Director of Evidence Generation
Stillwater, MN
Tim Fries, MPH ’20 (public health administration and policy)
Optometric Management Group
Chief Visionary Officer/Partner
Columbus, OH
Janelle Peralez Gunn, MPH ’03 (public health nutrition)
CDC – DNPAO
Associate Director for Policy, Partnerships, & Communications
Atlanta, GA
Wanlin Hu
2nd year epidemiology student
Minneapolis, MN
Christopher Johnson, PhD ‘98 (health service research, policy & administration)
Georgia State University, Robinson College of Business
Professor of Health Administration and Director of the Institute of Health Administration
Atlanta, GA
Thuy Kim, PhD ’23 (environmental health)
Minneapolis, MN
Craig Meyer, MPH ‘10 (environmental health), MS ‘13 (biostatistics, PhD ‘16 (epidemiology)
Jassen Pharmaceuticals
Principal Scientist
San Francisco, CA
Louis Monette, MHA ‘22 (healthcare administration)
Allina Health
Manager of Surgical Operations
Minneapolis, MN
Connor Oetzmann
2nd year healthcare administration student
Minneapolis, MN
Dawn Sibanda, MPH ‘11 (public health practice)
Genentech
Medical Director
San Mateo, CA
Raymond Thron, PhD ’75, MS ’71 (environmental health)
Laureate Education
Professor
Saint Paul, MN
Melissa Ugland, MPH ’98 (maternal and child health)
Whitefish Bay, WI
Mayo Clinic
Emeritus Chief Administrative Officer
Phoenix, AZ
Heather Weinreich, MPH ’05 (epidemiology)
University of Illinois at Chicago
Assistant Professor
Chicago, IL
Trisha Wood, MHA ’04 (public health administration and policy)
Independent Consultant
Seattle, WA
