What do students need to maintain a healthy lifestyle while in college? That’s what Spartan in Public Health alumnus John Matkovic’s research focuses on.

“We all know that students enter college with different levels of readiness on how to study, how to be healthy while in college,” said Matkovic, who earned his bachelor’s degree in microbiology (’06) and his master of public health (MPH) (’11) from Michigan State University.

You’re six months pregnant, and you get the news that the father of your unborn child has been shot and killed while visiting his family in a town two hours away. It could be your undoing, or you could work through your grief and eventually move on with your life to do something positive in spite of the tragedy.

That’s what happened to Sara Loughrige in February 2005.

“All you can do is try to keep going,” Loughrige said. “The immediate feeling is that you don’t want to do anything—you get frozen in grief.”

Armed with her MSU master’s degree in public health and more than 25 years of experience, Noel Pingatore, Spartan in Public Health, joined the fight against COVID-19 to decrease transmission and improve patient outcomes for tribal communities in Michigan. Tribal communities were experiencing higher rates of underlying risk factors for COVID-19 and disproportionate health outcomes.

Clara Barajas grew up working in farm fields and picking crops with her siblings. As a child, she recalls serving as a translator and helping loved ones get needed health care services. As a public health professional, she advocates for the health interests of the Latino community.

Emily Williams is working to improve population health in the Greater Detroit area. With a focus on the social determinants of health, she is addressing food insecurity, housing, transportation, and employment needs.

Academic scholarship. Mentoring. Community leadership. Teaching. Research. It seems that Bryan O. Buckley, Spartan in Public Health, has accomplished it all. But he’s really just getting started. For Buckley, public health is his vehicle to make the world better.

Terence Gipson works as a research coordinator for the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Gipson was able to continue his work in Central and South America, all while completing his master of public health degree at MSU.

Craig Reed is the director of the Binge and Underage Drinking Initiative with the Institute for Public Strategies. His work focuses on systems change to promote health and wellness, mentoring young public health advocates, and revitalizing neighborhoods in California.

Sue Kim works as an influenza data analyst for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She is responsible for tracking population-based rates of hospitalization due to severe influenza-related illness across five counties in Michigan.

Amanda Darche, Spartan in Public Health, works as the Health Communication Specialist and Public Information Officer for the Ingham County Health Department. Her goal is to influence people’s health behaviors and beliefs.

Human Medicine, Paleontology, Vet Med, and Public Health... Katherine Adwell has carved out a non-traditional career path for herself—which includes her passion for animals.

Leah Maschino has always been interested in helping people. She is following her passion by working with the Flint Community to overcome health disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.