Master of Public Health

Virtual Pinning Ceremony

Department of Graduate Public Health College of Veterinary Medicine

February 26, 2021 5:00 P.M. (CST)

COVID-19 Reminds us that it is the collective effort of community partnerships that will slow the spread of communicable diseases.

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Programme

Presiding Crystal M. James, JD MPH

Head, Department of Graduate Public Health (DGPH) Special Assistant to the President for COVID-19 Recovery

The Invocation Dr. Lloyd Webb

Professor (DGPH)

Greetings

Dean Ruby L. Perry, DVM, PhD College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

The Occasion

Maleeka Glover, ScD, MPH Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Division of Emergency Operations Chief, Medical Investigations Team (MIT)

Year-1 Presentations on Research Focus

Amira Brooks Major Professor: Atty. Crystal James Avia Sutton Major Professor: Dr. Ehsan Abdalla Ty’Quieria Lodge Major Professor: Atty. Crystal James Ashunti Davis Major Professor: Dr. Lloyd Webb

Presentation of the Official Blazer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Year-2 Presentations on Research Focus

Jakeiia Bedgood Major Professor: Atty. Crystal James Thesis Topic: Does acetaminophen have the ability to stop the growth of the parasite, toxoplasma Gondii?

Raven McClellan Major Professor: Dr. John Heath Thesis Topic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health Perceptions of African Americans

Jedidah Murray Major Professor: Atty. Crystal James Thesis Topic: Effects of COVID-19 on Maternal Mortality and Mask Wearing Mitigation

Atiya Shahid Major Professor: Dr. Ehsan Abdalla Thesis Topic: The Relation of Age on HIV-Positive women’s Cluster of Differentiation 4, Antiretroviral Therapy, Papanicolaou test, Human Papillomavirus test and Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid

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The Pinning Ceremony

Presentation of the Challenge

Introduction of the Speaker Ashanti-Ali Davis MPH Class of 2020

Speaker Rueben Warren, DDS, DrPh, MPH, M.Div

Acceptance of the Challenge Jedidah Murray

MPH Class of 2021

Closing Remarks Attorney Crystal M. James

On behalf of the CVM Graduate Public Health Program thank you for sharing in the Master of Public Health Pinning Ceremony

It is the belief of the GPHP that ethical leaders are positive change agents.

As Dr. Frederick Patterson said:

“Change agents are critical links to enable community to grow, be healthy and make a positive contribution to America. Their road is often rocky, but they are sustained by their training and commitment to make the world a better place in which to live.” (Source: Speech, 1944 New York)

Inaugural Historical Overview The annual pinning ceremony is held to mark the beginning of our students’ community engagement by receiving the departmental jacket that is to be worn when presenting in professional and community settings. It also serves to acknowledge the completion of the basic requirements for the Master of Public Health degree and progress towards the final requirement of thesis/practicum for second year students. We at the Department of Graduate Public Health (DGPH), are indoctrinating this tradition to recognize the efforts of our students to not only learn the core functions and essential services that are taught in public health programs and schools across this nation and abroad, but to also acknowledge their commitment to the vision and mission of our program. This is why our new students are not given an official blazer until they have completed at least one academic semester demonstrating their aptitude and dedication. Moreover, the students do not receive the official

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pin until they have not only completed requisite credit hours but also demonstrated their ability and readiness to enter the community displaying the ideals, we hold dear.

The Purpose

The annual pinning ceremony is held at the beginning of each Spring semester. Students who have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credit hours and received the recommendation from their academic advisor will receive the Graduate Public Health Program (GPHP) pin. This prestigious pin signifies their readiness to complete the final stages of their professional training, with the competencies and skills necessary for the public health work force. The pin was designed by the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Ruby L. Perry, and Department Head, Attorney Crystal James. Also, during this ceremony the students who have successfully completed at least one academic semester of course work and identified their area of focus for experiential learning and community engagement receives the DPHP blazer which signifies that they are prepared to engage in practical experience in the field of public health and represent the mission of the DPHP.

Building upon the legacy of Tuskegee University, the mission of the

GPHP is to prepare the next generation of diverse leadership through research, innovation, advocacy, and community engagement.

Past Cohorts

2017

Back Row Left to Right: Juma Kamara, Leondria Hinds, Dr. Nathalia Ramirez, Rena Blakely,

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Mylo Howard Samina Akhter, Dr. Candy Gomez, Destinee Grant, Alicia Roberts. Front Row Left to Right: Dean Ruby Perry, Ms. Renee Freeman, Attorney Crystal James

2018

Left to Right: Dr. Nathalia Ramirez, Samina Akhter, Mylo Howard, Mr. Kenneth Ray, Dr. Candy Gomez, Dr. Oyoyo Egiebor

2019

Back Row Left to Right: Denzel Veale, Ashanti Davis, Kellon Banks, Ronald Peaster, Oyoyo Egiebor, Samina Akhter, Mylo Howard Front Row Left to Right: Dr. Rueben Warren, Dr. Cheryl Davis, Dean Ruby Perry, Attorney Crystal James

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2020

Back Row Left to Right: Dr. Lloyd Webb, Dr. John Heath, Denzel Veale, Kellon Banks, Ronald Peaster, Dr. Rueben Warren, Ashanti Davis, Dr. Melvena Wilson, Dr. Ehsan Abdalla. Front Row Left to Right: Atty. Crystal James, Atiya Shahid, Jedidah Murray, Christian Patterson, Raven McClelland, Jakeiia Bedgood, Dr. Ruby Perry, Dean

2020 Challenge speaker: Ms. Heather Murphy, MPH Class 2015