Note from the Chair

Dear Friends,

A new school year has begun, and our halls are bustling with the energy and excitement of these first fall days back on campus. Public Health is thrilled to welcome a dynamic new cohort of 44 first years, as well as two new faculty, to our department!

I am happy to announce this as our first edition of what will be a biannual Public Health News - a way to provide you with departmental updates and to connect with alumni, community partners, faculty, and collaborating academic institutions.

Our faculty and staff are redoubled in our commitment to providing rigorous, evidence-based Public Health training to the next generation of Public Health leaders – at a time when we need the scientific knowledge, resources, and skills of this field all the more. Our SCU Public Health education has never been more necessary, nor our departmental mission more relevant, as we work to promote health and health equity with local and global communities utilizing justice-oriented, applied, and sustainable education, research and advocacy.

From our classrooms to community-based work with local health organizations to our personalized mentorship and professional discernment with each Public Health student, SCU’s Jesuit values and Cura Personalis resonate with the commitments of Public Health as we train our students to build a more humane, just and sustainable world.

As Chair, I see these values embodied in daily acts on the part of our students and faculty - a late-night faculty email to a student gently checking in on them; a student sitting with a person experiencing homelessness and truly listening to them; the joy on a student’s face after she submits a first-author publication on her year-long research project to a peer-reviewed journal. The camaraderie and excitement of twenty Public Health students having lunch with their faculty mentors in San Francisco after presenting their research at a national scientific conference. This is SCU Public Health - and these are the futures we are creating together.

Speaking of futures, I am so proud to announce our student awardees in Public Health and in the College of Arts and Sciences - read on for profiles of these inspiring students! Many of our Class of 2025 have gone on to top tier graduate programs to study public health and pursue clinical careers; each brings to their next phase of life meaningful learning experiences. In the words of one of our ‘25 grads:

“My time in the Public Health Department has shaped my personal and professional growth. It has helped me discover my passions and given me a clearer sense of what I want to do career-wise, as well as introduced me to opportunities I didn't know about before. Beyond academics, the program has also taught me valuable skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and empathy, that I can bring not just into the workplace but also into my everyday relationships. I think a good department does more than just teach course materials, it challenges you to think critically, exposes you to different perspectives, and helps you grow as a person and this department has certainly done that. Public Health, in particular, has pushed me to see the bigger picture and approach problems with both data and human impact in mind.”

I couldn’t be happier to announce our two new faculty members joining us this fall: Dr. Paul Gilbert, Associate Professor, comes to us from his position as Head of the Graduate Program in Public Health at the University of Iowa and brings a research specialty on substance use. Dr. Natasha Glendening just completed her doctorate in Epidemiology at UC Irvine and specializes in infectious diseases and global health.

2025 Department Retreat (L-R): Sheila Yuter, Cory Gong, Michele Parker, Craig Stephens, Kat Saxton, Micah Lattanner, Paul Gilbert, Natasha Glendening, Sonja Mackenzie, Alice Villatoro, Vannesa Errisuriz.

One final note - at a time of ongoing instability and institutional undermining of Public Health, I truly believe that we need to bring a long view of Public Health as a profession. I began my Public Health career in the late 1980s caring for children with HIV/AIDS at Children’s Hospital Oakland at a time of fear and misinformation. Since then, scientific research, public health interventions, and treatment advances have turned the tide of the HIV pandemic. In the face of current threats to public health infrastructure, we must support our public health systems and educational pipeline all the more. Never has our work been more important.

In Public Health, we follow the science. In the words of former CDC top official Daniel Jernigan, “Science saves lives. Public Health saves lives.” I am proud to say that, as Public Health scientists, we are “the people that protect America” (Demetre Daskalakis, Senior CDC official).

We bring the strength of community and collaboration, the science, and the heart that it takes to do our work today, as we have done for decades. Together with our students, faculty, staff and communities far beyond our campus - we are proud to be SCU Public Health.

To health, and health equity everywhere.

Sonja Mackenzie
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Public Health

Congratulations to Cory Mason Gong ’20 (Psychology, Environmental Studies), who received the 2025 College of Arts and Sciences Nancy Keil Service Excellence Award for his exemplary service as Academic Department Manager to the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Sciences and Studies. Cory also serves on the College's JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Council.

Class of 2025 - Congratulations Recent Graduates

This past June, we celebrated the graduation of our Public Health Majors from the Class of 2025. The Class of 2025 was one of our largest classes ever –with over 70 graduates!

We’d like to acknowledge the Public Health Majors within the Class of 2025 who received University Awards:

Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. Award
Claire Elizabeth Alford
Public Health Science Major, Health Science Emphasis
Biology Minor

Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. Award
Sydney Joy Shelby
Public Health Science Major, Health Science Focus and Biology Major
African American Studies Minor and Medical & Health Humanities Minor

Saint Clare Medal
Hydeia Monique Wysinger
Public Health Science Major, Health & Society Focus and Psychology Major
Political Science Minor and Religious Studies Minor

Student Life Award
Bianca Duarte
Public Health Science Major, Health & Society Focus and Psychology Major

Gracelyn Bateman Award for Inclusive Excellence
Lillian Hope Cooper
Public Health Science Major, Health & Society Focus
Political Science Minor

Gracelyn Bateman Award for Inclusive Excellence
Wanyu Xiang
Public Health Science Major, Health Science Focus and Biology Major
Sustainable Food Systems Minor

Markkula Prize
Sydney Joy Shelby
Public Health Science Major, Health Science Focus and Biology Major
African American Studies Minor and Medical & Health Humanities Minor

Neidar Family Alumni Service Award
Krista Ellis Gorham
Public Health Science Major, Health Science Focus
Biology Minor

Neidar Family Alumni Service Award
Emily Paige Hofstetter
Public Health Science Major, Health & Society Focus and Communication Major

We’d also like to acknowledge the Public Health Majors within the Class of 2025 who received Departmental Awards:

The Public Health Science Senior Scholar Award
Neha Mann
Public Health Science Major, Health Science Focus
Biology Minor

The Public Health Science Senior Prize for Community Engagement
Sarah El Qadah
Public Health Science Major, Health & Society Focus and Communication Major, Strategic Communication Focus

The Public Health Science Senior Prize for Community Engagement
Wanyu Xiang
Public Health Science Major, Health Science Focus and Biology Major
Sustainable Food Systems Minor

Our sincere and beloved congratulations to the Class of 2025. 
Best wishes in your future endeavors!

Welcome Paul Gilbert and Natasha Glendening to SCU!

The Department of Public Health welcomes our two new faculty members, Dr. Paul Gilbert and Dr. Natasha Glendening!

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Micah Lattanner's Recent Publication

Dr. Lattanner and colleagues recently published a meta-analysis in the 2025 Annual Review of Public Health titled "State of the Science of Structural Stigma and LGBTQ+ Health: Meta-Analytic Evidence, Research Gaps, and Future Directions." Public Health majors Stella Palumbo and Carly Peterson helped with submitting a manuscript funded through the Santa Clara Unhoused Initiative.

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Alice Villatoro's Recent Publication

“Stigma Affects How Parents Respond to their Children’s Mental Health, But Does Child Gender Complicate the Story?” was published in Stigma and Health.

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Opioid Overdose Prevention Research Paper highlights Evaluation of SCU’s Naloxone Vending Machine

Sonja Mackenzie and Kat Saxton with Research Assistants Jamie Son and Saron Asfaw recently submitted their manuscript “You Never Know When You’re Gonna Need It” - Preventing Opioid Overdose on a College Campus: Evaluation of a Naloxone Vending Machine."

This mixed-methods study evaluated student awareness, utilization, and perceptions of the naloxone vending machine installed at Santa Clara University in May 2023 through a campus-wide survey (n=320) and in-depth interviews (n=18). Students with naloxone were significantly more confident in recognizing and responding to overdoses than those without. Findings indicate that naloxone vending machines can be acceptable and effective harm reduction strategies on college campuses, through reducing barriers to opioid overdose prevention related to stigma, cost, and accessibility.

Public Health attends Society of Behavioral Medicine Conference in Sp25

SCU’s Department of Public Health had a strong presence at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine held in San Francisco, CA, from March 26-29. Congratulations to our outstanding seniors for presenting their research findings, conducted in collaboration with their Public Health faculty mentors! Amazing work!

Students: Saron Asfaw ’25 (Public Health Science), Hydeia Wysinger ’25 (Psychology, Public Health Science), Roberto Mercado ’25 (Public Health Science), Cecelia Brown ’25 (Public Health Science), Jamie Son ’25 (Public Health Science), Bianca Duarte ’25 (Psychology, Public Health Science), Alexa Andrews ’25 (Biology, Public Health Science), Jill Morimoto ’25 (Public Health Science), Angela Dimaano ’25 (Public Health Science), Brianna McDaniel ’25 (Public Health Science; not pictured), and Darryllyn Do ’25 (Public Health Science; not pictured).

Faculty Mentors: Kat Saxton, Sonja Mackenzie, Alice Villatoro, Vanessa Errisuriz, and Micah Lattanner.

Valeriote-Goldman Public Health Leadership Program

Since 2018, the Valeriote-Goldman Public Health Leadership Program (VG-PHLP) has given the next generation of public health leaders the opportunity to engage in contemporary issues of health, equity, and justice with local non-profit organizations throughout Santa Clara County. Thanks to the generosity of Sue Valeriote ‘77 and her husband, Ken Goldman, each cohort of rising seniors selected for VG-PHLP participates in an intensive 300 hour summer internship while receiving a $6000 stipend. Cohort members participate in PHSC 130 Public Health Leadership in spring quarter preceding their summer placement and then return for their own section of PHSC 197 in the fall to conclude their experience.

Unhoused Initiative Helps Launch Advocacy Practice

Designed to respond to the increasing criminalization of homelessness, this new direct legal services project assists clients with legal matters stemming from their current or previous experience of homelessness, including property claims after encampment sweeps, infraction and citation defense, court fines and fees, and vehicle towing matters.

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The Plague Archives - History Meets Public Health

In May, the Public Health and History departments, in collaboration with the de Saisset Museum and the Center for Arts and Humanities, welcomed artist Maya Gurantz to campus for a two-day engagement with Gurantz’s exhibit The Plague Archives. Sonja Mackenzie and Matthew Newsom Kerr (History) held a panel discussion with Maya on "Reimagining Public Health Futures and Histories." Students and faculty had a dynamic set of discussions in classroom visits, including Public Health Senior Capstone and Infectious Disease and Human Society Honors students.

Public Health Capstone, Spring 2025: Public Health Approaches to Addressing Homelessness

Students conduct qualitative and quantitative research with people experiencing homelessness in the South Bay.

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Welcome Kalea Nash Chambers!

Alumna and Public Health faculty Dr. Amia Nash Chambers, Class of 2015, and husband Dillon Chambers are now the proud parents of Kalea, born on August 5, 2025! 

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Alumni, recent graduates and community organizations ~ Do you have a story to share? Want to be featured in a future newsletter? Please email phsc@scu.edu with your information and content. We look forward to hearing from you!