Student Leadership
The Public Health Award
This award is given to a graduating public health major who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the study of public health, service to the community, and leadership within the Public Health Program.
- 2024 Recipient: Madeline Bill ‘24
- 2023 Recipient: Mahum Naveed ‘23
Public Health Club
The Moravian University Public Health Club provides students with opportunities to engage in health promotion through on campus activities and community service. The club aims to provide students with knowledge of current events in public health, professional development skills and resources, and experience serving the community. The public health club welcomes students of all majors to participate.
Faculty advisor: Colleen Payton PhD MPH CPH MCHES
Student leaders:
- 2024: Sofia Smith (President), Ava Piotti (Vice President), Rikki Frailey (Secretary), Jackie Salvatore (Treasurer), Madison Snyder (Social Media Co-Chair), Jasmine Danweber (Social Media Co-Chair), Kimberly Laomiakis (Program Coordinator), Alexandra Cherenson (Marketing), Arielle Fan (Health Advocacy)
- 2023: Madeline Bill (President), Melanie Pagan (Vice President), Anthony Mosley (Secretary), Sofia Smith (Treasurer), Samantha Osorio (Social Media Co-Chair), Kat Flores (Social Media Co-Chair)
- 2022: Rachel Kelly (President), Mahum Naveed (Vice President), Sofia Smith (Secretary), Sarah Gross (Treasurer), Marissa Werner (Social Media Chair)
- 2021: Nicoletta Capasso (President), Andrew Goodolf (Vice President), Rachel Kelly (Secretary), Charlene Weiner (Treasurer), Marissa Werner (Social Media Co-Chair), Mahum Naveed (Social Media Co-Chair)
- 2020: Emma Standing (President), John Stires, (Vice President), Mahum Naveed (Secretary), Micaela Posh (Treasurer)
- 2019: William Pelletiers (President), Ciara Nicholson (Vice President), Liam Romond (Secretary), Prishaani Govender (Treasurer)
- 2018: Morgan Wagner (President), Kayla Herr (Vice President), Shae Duka (Secretary), Cheyenne King (Treasurer)
Contact information:
- Email: publichealthclub@moravian.edu
- Instagram: moravian_phc
Food Recovery Network
The Food Recovery Network is a student-led movement to fight food waste and end hunger. Moravian University has a chapter led by student ambassadors.
Faculty advisor: Tanu Altomare PhD MPH
Partnership: Moravian University Dining Services, Christine Bainbridge, Marketing Manager
Student leaders:
- Carly Saunders (President)
- Onalee Long (Vice President)
- Lily Mingora (Secretary)
- Bryce VanNorman (Social Media Coordinator)
- Sophia Magistro (Treasurer)
Contact information:
Instagram:
COVID Campus Coalition
The COVID Campus Coalition is a student-led organization that provides college students with accurate, timely information about COVID vaccines through a social media campaign. Moravian University has a chapter led by 2 student ambassadors.
Faculty advisor: Colleen Payton PhD MPH CPH MCHES
Student ambassadors: Onalee Long and Bryce VanNorman
Instagram: covidcampuscoalitio
CIEE UNHCR Student Challenge
Public Health students participated in the 2024 Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Student Challenge. The goal of the competition is "to call on student leaders from across the globe to present their solution ideas to support increasing access to higher education and livelihood for forcibly displaced youth around the world. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people."
Student leaders:
- Kimberly Lakomiak - Team Captain
- Alexandra Cherenson
- Jaclyn Salvatore
- Lily Mingora
Society for Public Health Education Collegiate Champions
The Society for Public Health Education has selected Moravian University public health students to its Collegiate Champion Program. This program provides students with the opportunity to serve as liaisons between SOPHE and Moravian University. Champions collaborate to lead a public health event each semester during their first year of the program. During the second year of the program, Champions mentor new Collegiate Champions.
Faculty advisor: Colleen Payton PhD MPH CPH MCHES
Collegiate Champions
2021-2022: Sarah Gross and Mahum Naveed
Mahum and Sarah led a National Public Health Week celebration. They hosted a table in the central part of campus with a jump rope competition, DIY first aid kits, stress balls, and informational pamphlets highlighting public health careers and courses at Moravian. Sarah said, “It was really great to see so many students, faculty, and members of Moravian University’s community engaged in and excited about participating in activities related to the promotion of public health education at our National Public Health week event.” Mahum said, “The DIY first aid kits and the jump rope competition brought people together to participate in a fun activity. This experience was rewarding from planning and organizing to leading the event. It was a great way to highlight the importance of public health.”
2020-2021: Nicoletta Capasso and Orion Sun
Nicoletta and Orion organized a do-it-yourself stress ball making event to promote mental wellness. Students made their own homemade stress balls out of balloons and water beads. Mental wellness was chosen due to the importance of mental health especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Director of the Counseling Center presented an overview of the Counseling Center. Nicoletta said, “Planning this event helped me coordinate with different organizations and individuals with all types of campus involvement. It also provided me with an opportunity to use Canva, a graphic design website, to create the advertisement flyer for the event.” Orion said, “I learned how to effectively communicate with students, faculty, and staff to organize and host an educational event. These leadership and communication skills will be useful in my future career.”
2019-2020: Erin O’Sullivan and Micaela Posh
Erin and Micaela hosted a booth at the health fair where 86 students and faculty created a first aid kit, which included supplies like band-aids and antibiotic ointment. They also created a tri-fold poster board where students defined what public health meant to them by adding a sticky note to the board. Erin said, “As a SOPHE Collegiate Champion, I was able to enhance my leadership and communication skills as I spoke with other students and faculty on campus educating them on the importance of public health in a fun and interactive way.” Micaela said, “As a SOPHE Collegiate Champion, I was given the opportunity to help those in my school community to expand their knowledge on what public health is and how much it is sewn into the fabric of society.”
2018-2019: Prishaani Govender and William Pelletiers
Prishaani and William collaborated with the Public Health Club, Pre-Health Club, and Medlife to host a coat drive for newly arrived refugees. Refugees resettled to Pennsylvania come from a variety of backgrounds, and we wanted to welcome them by ensuring they stay warm and dry throughout the snowy winter. Prishaani Govender said, “As a SOPHE Collegiate Champion, this fundraising event enhanced our networking and health education communication skills.” William Pelletiers shared, “As a SOPHE Collegiate Champion, I was able to collaborate with other organizations to support a vulnerable population within our local community.”
Contact
Dr. Colleen Payton PhD, MPH, CPH, MCHES
Associate Professor
Director of the Public Health Program
paytonc@moravian.edu
Location: 1107 Main St, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Instagram: moravianpublichealth
LinkedIn: Moravian University Public Health Students & Alumni