Senate
Senate Members 2024-2025
Below are the members of the PHSA Senate for the 2024-2025 academic year. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions for PHSA, please contact any Senate member. We look forward to hearing from you!
The Public Health Student will have a fall school-wide election which will occur before September 30th (as per the PHSA Constitution). If interested in the open positions, please nominate yourself or another student via the nominating form, which goes live in September. If you have questions about a role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu.
President - Allison Baumgartner (She/Her/Hers) ambaum@umich.edu
Allison is a second-year MPH student in Global Health Epidemiology. Allison is from Raleigh, North Carolina, where she received an undergraduate degree in biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health with minors in chemistry and music. Her professional interests encompass global maternal and child health, community-based participatory research, and mixed-method intervention monitoring and evaluation. As the PHSA President, Allison aims to foster cross-departmental and organizational engagement, idea-sharing, support, and collaboration. She enjoys hiking, experimenting with new recipes, painting, and playing the piano during her free time. Allison is committed to supporting the student community at SPH this academic year.
Vice President - Marlee Sacksner (She/Her/Hers) marleeis@umich.edu
Marlee Sacksner is a senior in the Undergraduate Public Health BA Program and is also pursuing a minor in Gender and Health. She is from Bloomfield Hills, MI. Marlee is interested in health equity, mental health advocacy and awareness, and reproductive justice. She hopes to work in the health administration field after graduation. In her free time, Marlee enjoys going to the movies with friends, baking and cooking, and spending time with her family and her dog. She is excited to serve as the Vice President and hopes to provide a supportive and welcoming environment for the entire SPH community through effective communication and programming.
Treasurer - Hannah Stovall (She/Her/Hers); hstovall@umich.edu
Hannah Stovall is a senior in the undergraduate program majoring in Public Health Sciences from Livonia, MI. Hannah is most interested in infectious disease prevention and injury prevention. After graduation, she hopes to continue her education by receiving an MPH in Epidemiology. She is looking forward to helping create a positive, welcoming SPH community. In her free time, Hannah enjoys exercise, baking, and reading.
Secretary - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an SPH Undergraduate or Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. Executive Board Member who assists with executive and senate agenda setting and meeting minutes, PHSA internal organization, and external communication/promotion to the SPH student body. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form, which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Secretary role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Parliamentarian - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an Undergraduate or Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. This executive board voting member is responsible for knowing the PHSA constitution and the by-laws. Responsible for maintaining rationale behind decisions such as constitutional amendments, shifts in responsibilities or positions, etc. They work with the Treasurer to update and maintain the PHSA Inventory spreadsheet. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Parliamentarian role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
First-Year Representative - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an incoming Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) who is enrolled full-time in the SPH. The First-Year Representative can be from any SPH Graduate Department. An Executive Board voting member, a liaison between the first-year graduate students and PHSA, and an advocate for the needs of the first-year graduate school class. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the First-Year Representative role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Undergraduate Representative - Samantha Riordan (She/Her/Hers) riordasa@umich.edu
Samantha Riordan is a senior in the undergraduate program majoring in Public Health Sciences from Northville, MI. Sam is most interested in healthcare management. She is planning to continue onto graduate school in the future. As undergraduate representative, she is passionate about educating the community - both within and outside of SPH - about the work undergraduates contribute to public health. She is excited to help foster collaboration between cohorts and to help improve the inclusiveness of PHSA for undergraduates. Outside of class, Sam enjoys playing soccer, reading, and exploring coffee shops;
Doctoral Representative - Edith Mercado (She/Her/Hers) emercado@umich.edu
Edith is a second-year PhD student in Environmental Health Science at the School of Public Health. She is a bilingual, first-generation Hispanic student striving to make a difference in public health. Originally from Genoa, Illinois, she obtained her undergraduate degree from Elmhurst University, majoring in Biology with minors in Environmental Studies, Spanish, and Chemistry. During her undergraduate years, she was a Resident Advisor, a member of the Latino Student Association, and participated in the Women's Track & Field Team for all 4 years. After graduation, she spent a year participating in the Association of Public Health Laboratories-Center for Disease Control (APHL-CDC) fellowship. She moved to Concord, New Hampshire, where she worked in the NH state public health laboratory to further advance her in the biomonitoring department's analytical chemistry instruments (ICP-MS, GC, LC). Her research focuses on the relationship between environmental chemical exposures and injustices in underrepresented communities, emphasizing biomonitoring and population disparities. She also enjoys learning Latino dances, singing, hiking, and running with her dog.
International Student Representative - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an Undergraduate or Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. A Departmental Board voting member responsible for being an intermediate between SPH international students and the PHSA Senate. The International Student Representative is responsible for voicing relevant concerns or ideas from the international student body at SPH to the PHSA Senate and is also required to disseminate relevant information from the PHSA Senate to their student subset. They will also be expected to coordinate with existing international student organizations to ensure that PHSA meets the needs of the international student population at SPH. All members of the Departmental Board, along with the rest of the PHSA Senate, are expected to support and assist other PHSA Senate members in coordinating PHSA events. Each Departmental Board member is responsible for coordinating and attending at least one PHSA event each semester and helping plan for the semesterly PHSA Town Hall. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the International Student Representative role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Biostatistics Chair - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for a Biostatistics Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. A Departmental Board voting member responsible for being an intermediate between the Biostatistics students and the PHSA Senate. The Biostatistics Chair is responsible for voicing relevant concerns or ideas from the biostatistics student body at SPH to the PHSA Senate. They must also disseminate relevant information from the PHSA Senate to their department. All members of the Departmental Board, along with the rest of the PHSA Senate, are expected to support and assist other PHSA Senate members in coordinating PHSA events. Each Departmental Board member is responsible for coordinating and attending at least one PHSA event each semester and helping plan for the semesterly PHSA Town Hall. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form, which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Biostatistics Chair role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Environmental Health Sciences Chair - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an Environmental Health Sciences Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. A Departmental Board voting member responsible for being an intermediate between the Environmental Health Sciences students and the PHSA Senate. The Environmental Health Sciences Chair is responsible for voicing relevant concerns or ideas from the Environmental Health Sciences student body at SPH to the PHSA Senate. They must also disseminate relevant information from the PHSA Senate to their department. All members of the Departmental Board, along with the rest of the PHSA Senate, are expected to support and assist other PHSA Senate members in coordinating PHSA events. Each Departmental Board member is responsible for coordinating and attending at least one PHSA event each semester and helping plan for the semesterly PHSA Town Hall. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form, which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Environmental Health Sciences Chair role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Epidemiology Chair - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an Epidemiology Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. A Departmental Board voting member responsible for being an intermediate between the Epidemiology students and the PHSA Senate. The Epidemiology Chair is responsible for voicing relevant concerns or ideas from the Epidemiology student body at SPH to the PHSA Senate. They must also disseminate relevant information from the PHSA Senate to their department. All members of the Departmental Board, along with the rest of the PHSA Senate, are expected to support and assist other PHSA Senate members in coordinating PHSA events. Each Departmental Board member is responsible for coordinating and attending at least one PHSA event each semester and helping plan for the semesterly PHSA Town Hall. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form, which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Epidemiology Chair role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Health Behavior & Health Equity Chair - Emily Anderson (She/Her/Hers) eeand@umich.edu
Emily is a second-year MPH student in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity. She is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities. Emily is interested in studying health disparities, equitable access to healthcare, and public health genetics. In her free time, Emily enjoys hiking, yoga, cooking, and trying new coffee shops in Ann Arbor. She is excited to serve as the HBHE Chair this academic year and looks forward to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community in SPH.
Health Informatics Chair - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for a Health Informatics Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. A Departmental Board voting member responsible for being an intermediate between the Health Informatics students and the PHSA Senate. The Health Informatics Chair is responsible for voicing relevant concerns or ideas from the Health Informatics student body at SPH to the PHSA Senate. They must also disseminate relevant information from the PHSA Senate to their department. All members of the Departmental Board, along with the rest of the PHSA Senate, are expected to support and assist other PHSA Senate members in coordinating PHSA events. Each Departmental Board member is responsible for coordinating and attending at least one PHSA event each semester and helping plan for the semesterly PHSA Town Hall. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form, which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Health Informatics Chair role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Health Management and Policy Chair - Kieu Anh Phan (She/Her/Hers) kieuphan@umich.edu
Kieu Anh Phan is a Third-year Dual Degree student, pursuing a Master of Health Services Administration and a Master Public Health in Global Health Epidemiology. She was born and raised in Vietnam and educated in Singapore. Kieu completed her undergraduate degree in Global and Public Health Sciences at Cornell University. Some of her professional interests include global health, climate change, health management and nutrition. In her free time, Kieu loves to explore new places, new recipes and meet new people.
Nutritional Sciences Chair - Farhia Mohamed (She/Her/Hers) farhia@umich.edu
Farhia is a first-year MPH student in the Nutritional Sciences Department. She graduated with distinction and an honors degree in Nutrition Science from College of Life Sciences - Kuwait University. Her focus is on nutritional epidemiology, with an emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion. As the Nutritional Sciences Chair, her goal is to integrate the department into the School of Public Health. She aims to foster a culture of inclusivity, integrity, and continuous growth within the SPH community. This will eventually create a supportive and thriving environment for all SPH students. In her free time, Farhia enjoys creating nutrition content, photography, and staying fit.
Population and Health Sciences Chair - Shadi Mawari (He/Him/His) ssmawari@umich.edu
Shadi is a second-year MPH student in the Population and Health Sciences department. He currently lives in Dearborn, Michigan and graduated with his Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health from Wayne State University. His interests in public health include effects of redlining, health equity, and the impact of policy on community health. Shadi is driven by a goal to enact tangible changes within his own community and beyond. He is also committed to bridging the gap between online students and the rest of SPH. In his free time, Shadi enjoys traveling, trying new food spots, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Graduate DEI Co-Chair - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an SPH Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. The Graduate DEI Co-Chair is open to any Graduate student from any department. The Graduate DEI Chair will support the activities of the PHSA Senate by serving on pertinent committees within SPH, coordinating with existing student organizations that serve minority students, and partnering with the Office of Student Affairs on events intended to foster diversity. The PHSA DEI Chair will meet with the SPH DEI staff leadership to discuss strategic goals and action plans for the academic year and is in charge of promoting and executing events focused on promoting diversity and addressing the needs of minority students in the SPH. The DEI Chair will have a prominent role in the semesterly PHSA Town Hall. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form, which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Graduate DEI Co-Chair role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu.
Undergraduate DEI Co-Chair - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an SPH Undergraduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. The Undergraduate DEI Co-Chair is open to any undergraduate student from any department. The Undergraduate DEI Chair will support the activities of the PHSA Senate by serving on pertinent committees within SPH, coordinating with existing student organizations that serve minority students, and partnering with the Office of Student Engagement and Practice on events intended to foster diversity. The PHSA DEI Chair will meet with the SPH DEI staff leadership to discuss strategic goals and action plans for the academic year and is in charge of promoting and executing events focused on promoting diversity and addressing the needs of minority students in the SPH. The DEI Chair will have a prominent role in the semesterly PHSA Town Hall. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form, which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Undergraduate DEI Co-Chair role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu.
Graduate Professional Development Co-Chair - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an SPH Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. The Professional Development Chairs will disseminate knowledge about events pertaining to professional development within the School and within the wider University. They will coordinate SPH events or activities related to professional development opportunities, and serve as a liaison between the administration who works with alumni and the current student body. The Professional Development Chair will meet with Career Services and the Development Office to discuss strategic goals for the upcoming year. The Professional Development Chair will also oversee the Undergraduate-Graduate Mentorship Program. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form, which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Graduate Professional Development Co-Chair role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Undergraduate Professional Development Co-Chair - Owen Chun (He/Him/His) owenchun@umich.edu
Owen Chun is a junior in the Undergraduate Public Health B.S. program also pursuing Microbiology (B.S.) in the College of Literature, Science, and Arts. He enjoys running, everything Star Wars, and RTS games. Being from San Jose, CA, he is particularly passionate about food/nutrition insecurity, infectious diseases, and LGBTQ+ health. Strongly interested in pursuing public health, he hopes to pursue an MPH or become a Certified Public Health Microbiologist. As a Professional Development Co-Chair, he hopes to link the graduate and undergraduate programs while exposing students to the broad field of public health.
Graduate Service Co-Chair - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an SPH Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. The Graduate Service Co-Chair is open to any Graduate student from any department. As head of the Service Committee, the Graduate Service Chair organizes and develops service-related opportunities for the SPH student body that serve the internal and external community. They collaborate with the Office of Student Affairs on events that foster public health service. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form, which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Graduate Service Co-Chair role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Undergraduate Service Co-Chair - Albert Shim (He/Him/His) albertes@umich.edu
Albert is a senior in the Undergraduate Public Health BS Program. Passionate about environmental health and combating environmental injustice, Albert is also pursuing an Accelerated Master's Degree in environmental health sciences, with a focus on water quality and contaminant reduction. In his free time, Albert likes to listen to podcasts and walk the University of Michigan's arboretum. As undergraduate service co-chair, Albert hopes to engage the SPH undergraduate student body in making positive changes to communities on and off campus.
Graduate Social Co-Chair - Open Position Fall 2024
Open Position for an SPH Graduate Student in good academic standing (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) and enrolled full-time in the SPH. The Graduate Social Co-Chair is open to any Graduate student from any department. As head of the Social Committee, the Social Chairs organize and create social events for the entire student body to create community, networking, and engagement among SPH students. If interested, please nominate yourself or another student via nominating form which goes live in September. School-wide elections will take place before September 30th. If you have questions about the Graduate Social Co-Chair role on PHSA, please reach out to phsaboard@umich.edu;
Undergraduate Social Co-Chair - Grace Lenox (She/Her/Hers) gracelen@umich.edu
Grace Lenox is a senior majoring in Public Health Sciences in the undergraduate program, and minoring in Computer Science. She is from Northville, MI and enjoys crocheting, reading, making music, and spending time with friends and family. Grace plans to pursue a MPH after graduation, with interests in environmental health, epidemiology, and biostatistics. She is currently researching the health impacts of environmental noise and is particularly interested in health disparities, reproductive justice, and mental health advocacy. As Undergraduate Social Co-Chair, she hopes to provide the Public Health community with beneficial and engaging events throughout the year;