Public Health Alumni Association (PHAA) Fellowship 2026

Now celebrating 20 years of fundraising for graduate student fellowships, the UC Berkeley Public Health Alumni Association board of directors is thrilled to launch our annual crowdfunding campaign to support diversity in public health, with a goal of raising $14,000 to fund 7 fellowships open to any Berkeley Public Health student committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, we have exceeded our goals for the past 9 years of crowdfunding and would love your support in making an even bigger impact and funding more fellowships this year!

Diversity is vital in public health and the development of a diverse public health workforce must be centered in schools of public health. One of the values of Berkeley Public Health is “Strength Through Diversity,” which our community embraces in education, research, and service. While our student population has diversified in recent years, we could be doing more to create an inclusive, equitable environment for graduate students from all backgrounds. One real and tangible way to do that is by providing fellowships to students who have overcome disadvantaged social or educational backgrounds. Supporting these students in their public health education is a key step in addressing health inequities in the long term. 

We are asking alumni, faculty, family, and friends of the School of Public Health to support these students by donating to provide the financial aid that they need to thrive while in school and in their future public health careers.

Please donate to support 7 deserving students, each with a one-year, $2,000 fellowship for the next academic year. If we exceed our goal, we will be able to fund additional fellowships! Last year the Public Health Alumni Association was able to fund 10 fellowships through this crowdfunding opportunity. (Please note that there is a campus-imposed 7.5% gift fee on all donations and a 2.5% processing charge for credit card transactions but the remaining entirety of the donation goes towards student fellowships).

One huge hurdle to achieving diversity in education is the increasing cost of tuition and the many expenses associated with being a student. Higher education is expensive and it can have a serious impact on students and acquiring financial aid can be a deciding factor for many. We want to ensure money is not an obstacle to pursuing a degree for those interested in careers in public health.

Below are some testimonials from our 2026-2027 fellowship recipients!

The Public Health Alumni Association (PHAA) board of directors is a group of alumni volunteers who represent all UC Berkeley School of Public Health alumni. We work together to support the mission of the school and strengthen personal and professional relationships among public health alumni and students. One of our particular goals is to support diversity in the field of public health and ensure an inclusive, welcoming climate at the school for all of our students.

For any specific questions, please contact us at PHAA@berkeley.edu