Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases) and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, YSPH; Director, Advanced Professional MPH Program; Track Director, Applied Analytic Methods and Epidemiology, Online Executive MPH Program; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Core Faculty, National Clinician Scholars Program
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
At the Yale School of Public Health, we’re committed to cultivating an anti-racist and inclusive culture in which all members belong and are treated with respect. Across our close community of peers, mentors, collaborators and staff, we have adopted mentorship, recruitment, retention and professional development practices to help meet our goal of having an outstanding and diverse School of Public Health—a place that better reflects the local, national and international communities we study and serve.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is embedded within our academics, research, practice and policy. We work daily to continue improving our inclusive culture with our promise to seek out and draw in expertise, materials, knowledge and skills from around the corner and around the world.
Our scientists investigate the role of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, classism, and geopolitics in health disparities. We offer MPH students the opportunity to expand their expertise through the U.S. Health Justice Concentration, regardless of their primary department. The concentration launched an Activist in Residence program in 2022 to provide students with the opportunity to work on social justice issues with the best activists in the world. Through their internships and studies, our students are true cross-disciplinary collaborators who work with diverse populations locally from New Haven to globally in Africa, South America and Asia, creating innovative, high-impact solutions to address today’s and tomorrow’s public health equity challenges.
With leadership from the School’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, diversity committee and student ambassadors, as well as the activism of our student and alumni groups, we strive for equity in our community, curriculum and work in research and practice. We are committed to offering a welcoming environment for everyone that reflects the diversity and inclusivity of the school.
Combatting Racism is Public Health: A Graphic Novel
Who We Are
Student Ambassadors
- Lauren is a second-year CDE student in the US Health and Justice Concentration. She is hoping to spend her time as DEI ambassador facilitating open conversations between students and faculty and establishing a foundation for long-term, systemic DEI change. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys reading, cooking, and going on bike rides!
- Aivy is a second-year MPH student with a concentration in healthcare management. Originally from San Francisco, California, she recently graduated from undergrad at Yale University with a degree with distinction in the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health. This summer, Aivy had the opportunity to work for Deloitte Consulting as a Healthcare Summer Associate, in which she worked on process improvement in the provider space. On-campus, she is excited to engage more with the DEI community, especially in terms of addressing health equity in her new role as Diversity Ambassador. Some of Aivy's hobbies include dancing, hiking, and exploring new food locations!
- Simi is a second-year master’s candidate in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department at YSPH. She is a graduate researcher at the Yale School of Medicine with the Black Maternal Health Study, where she conducts qualitative research on the experiences of Black women with diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy. Simi volunteers with the HAVEN Free Clinic and Neighborhood Health Project to provide clinical services to underserved populations in the New Haven community and is on the board of the Women of Color for Maternal and Child Health organization. She also serves as the second-year SBS department representative. In 2020, she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology and African-American Studies from Harvard College. She is from Saint Louis, Missouri, and is of Nigerian heritage.