This project is now in update mode. Check back regularly to see how things are progressing.
Public Health Alumni Association Diversity Scholarships 2018
New STRETCH GOAL $16,000 to fund 3 additional Diversity Scholarships for 8 total in 24 hours. Thank you to our over 100 donors for helping make school more affordable to deserving students. Each additional $2,000 funds an extra Scholarship.
Why Diversity & Inclusion Matters
Diversity benefits any field, but it is particularly vital in public health. Despite major advances in public health in the past few decades, disparities in health and health care persist in the United States. Racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States are at a greater risk of being uninsured, lacking access to care, and experiencing worse health outcomes from preventable and treatable conditions. Research has shown that a culturally competent public health workforce is needed to address health-related issues in diverse populations. And the United States and particularly our state of California, are growing more diverse all the time. The development of a diverse public health workforce must start in the schools of public health. According the the Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce, three overlying principles will lead to diversity in health care:
- To increase diversity in the health professions, the culture of health professions schools must change.
- New and nontraditional paths to the health professions should be explored.
- Commitments must be at the highest levels.
One of the values of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health is “Strength through Diversity” and the School community embraces diversity in education, research, and service. The School's URM representation has improved dramatically in recent years and the School community is working hard to create an inclusive equitable environment. But the student body is still not as diverse as the population of California, particularly the Latino/a population. We are asking alumni and friends of the School to do their part to ensure that students are receiving the support they need to thrive at the School of Public Health and in their public health careers.
PHAA Diversity Scholarships
If you donate to our crowdfunding campaign, you will be supporting 5 underrepresented minority students, each with a one-year, $2 thousand scholarship for the next academic year. If we substantially exceed our goal, we may be able to fund one or more additional scholarships. One huge hurdle to achieving diversity in education is the increasing rate of tuition and the many costs associated with being student. High costs can have an even greater impact on underrepresented students and financial aid can be a deciding factor for many. We want to ensure money is not a deterrent in pursuing a degree for those who want to pursue a career in public health. Our association has given out six of these scholarships in the past, and we have seen them help students succeed.
About Us
The Public Health Alumni Association Board of Directors is a group of alumni volunteers who represent all alumni of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. We help alumni 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.
The team of board members working in support of this campaign are:
- Adam Crawley MPH ’11, President
- Sonny Vernard MPH '14 & MPP '14
- May Funabiki MPH '02
- Michelle Loya-Talamantes MPH '04
- Bob Frangenberg MPH '78
- Sarah Ismail, MPH '11
- Marta Cieslak, MPH '10 President-Elect
The team of School of Public Health staff working in support of this campaign are:
- Eileen Pearl, Director of External Relations Programs & Annual Giving
- Linda Anderberg, Director of Communications & Marketing
- Matthieu Kaminski, Multimedia & Technology
Make a Difference
We need your help to revive our annual PHAA Diversity Scholarship program! Together we can make a real difference for these students, who will then go on to make a difference in diverse communities in the state of California, in our nation, and around the world. Our alumni community is more than 15,000 members strong and growing each year. If each of us give even a small amount we will easily meet our goal.
For any specific questions please contact Berkeley SPH Alums: Sonny Vernard (sonnyv2007@gmail.com) or May Funabiki (lamaycheng@yahoo.com)
$25
Handwritten Thank You Card
In addition to listing your name in our BHM honor roll, we will send you a handwritten thank you note from one of our board members.
$50
Shout out on Social Media
In addition to listing your name in our BHM honor roll, we will thank you personally via the School of Public Health's Twitter or Facebook accounts.
$100
One year of Wellness Letters
In addition to listing your name in our BHM honor roll, we will give you a one-year complimentary subscription to the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, which is 12 issues of the evidence-based health and wellness newsletter.
$500
Scholarship Tea and Reception
In addition to listing your name in our BHM honor roll, we will invite you and a guest to the School of Public Health's 2018 Scholarship Tea, which brings together faculty, students, donors, and alumni to recognize student scholarship recipients and the donors whose generosity has made the awards possible. This event is on September 28, 2017. You will also be invited to a reception with Dean Stefano Bertozzi and other guests following the event.
$1,000
New SPH Building Tour w/Dean
The UC Berkeley School of Public Health is moving out of University Hall and into a new building in 2018. You will receive a group tour of the new building with Dean Bertozzi as your tour guide.
