The Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) celebrated its first graduating class as an independent school with a rousing ceremony in historic Woolsey Hall. As parents snapped pictures and students cheered their peers, Dean Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH praised the Class of 2025 for its resilience.
During the YSPH Diploma Ceremony, speakers called on graduates to lead with empathy and humanity, hold on to hope, and rebuild trust. Their words reflected the strength of a public health community rooted in shared values and driven by a collective vision for a healthier, more equitable future.
Welcome to the 2025 YSPH Commencement webpage – and congratulations to our graduating students!
Shankeri Vijayakumar, MPH ’25
(Social & Behavioral Sciences)
Lucia Shen, MPH ’25
(Social & Behavioral Sciences)
Arséma Thomas, MPH ’18
(Health Policy)
Dr. Joan K. Monin, PhD, Associate Professor of Public Health
(Social & Behavioral Sciences)
Alyssa Agarwal, MPH ’25
(Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases)
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Annual Teaching Awards and the Class of 2025 Student Awards!
Lucia Shen, MPH ’25, a Horstmann Scholar in the U.S. Health Justice Concentration and the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, will deliver the student address at the 2025 Yale School of Public Health Commencement.
Popular actor and Yale School of Public Health alum Arséma Thomas, MPH ’18, will deliver the keynote address at the Yale School of Public Health’s annual Commencement on May 19, 2025.
Join Alumnifire, Yale School of Public Health’s vibrant online alumni community powered by alumni for both current and future graduates. It’s a great way to stay involved after graduation by connecting with fellow public health professionals, offering mentorship, sharing career advice, exploring job opportunities, and supporting the next generation of leaders.
Whether you want to network, give back, or stay in the loop, Alumnifire keeps you connected and engaged with the YSPH community.
YSPH students have been working to be leaders in the science and practice of public health. Learn more about some of the students from the YSPH class of 2025.
Dr. Linda Niccolai, PhD, associate dean for academic affairs, discusses how YSPH is ensuring that students excel in understanding, conducting, and using rigorous science to advance population-level health.
While the work of advancing equity and belonging is everyone's responsibility, the YSPH student ambassadors play an important role in building community and supporting students. YSPH's three ambassadors reflect on their year of service.
Check back soon for more information, including photos from the commencement ceremony and the PhD hooding ceremony.