On January 22, 2021, the WSU MPH Program held a New Student Reception to welcome students admitted during the winter semester. The reception was facilitated by MPH Program Director Rachel Mahas, PhD, MPH. MPH faculty, and new and current students also attended this valuable event. The reception included a Student Panel comprised of current MPH students: Jessica Worley, Charis Wiltshire, and Kristian Rice. Beth Olson, MPH, 2018, the inaugural chair of our School of Medicine MPH Alumni Group and Anna Harris, outgoing president of the Public Health Student Organization (PHSO) also attended.

The undergraduate backgrounds of our new MPH cohort include degrees in public health, medicine, social work, pharmacy, dentistry, biology, psychology, computer engineering, and finance. Our new students expressed interest in a variety of public health careers including those of public health social workers, policy analysts, educators, pharmacists, administrators, researchers, and health department directors. We are excited about the aspirations of our new students. They will help infuse public health with much needed energy, ideas, and efficacy.