College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Academics > Public Health > Student Resources > Public Health Student Organization

Public Health Student Organization

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The purpose of the Public Health Student Organization is to focus on the preservation, enrichment, transmission, and application of interdisciplinary knowledge in public health that emphasizes social justice, service to vulnerable populations, and excellence in public health practice. 

Contact Information

The 2021-2022 Executive Board

Erin Augustine, President
Horace Nowell, Vice-President
Funmi Odutayo, Secretary
Keerthana Manoharan, MPH Student Representative
Somara Mentley, Communications Director
Rana AlSheikh​, First-Year Student Representative

Please contact the Master of Public Health Program mph@depaul.edu for more information.
PHSO members enjoying the 2015 Chicago AIDS Run & Walk

Accomplishments and Activities

  • Public Health Trivia (2021)
  • PHSO Fantasy Football League (2018)​
  • Fundraiser at Irish Eyes (raised over $400)
  • Volunteer events at Lakeview Food Pantry and Erie Neighborhood House (2016)
  • Color Run​ Chicago  (2016)
  • APHA Meeting in Denver, CO (2016)
  • Screening and discussion of The Hunting Ground (2016)
  • AIDS Run & Walk (raised over $600) (2015)​
  • American Heart Association's Heart Walk (raised over $500) (2013)
  • Society for Public Health Education Annual Meeting (2011)
  • American Public Health Association Annual Meeting (2011)
  • National Public Health Week, Nutrition and Physical Activity event at Rowe Elementary (2010)
  • Health Care Reform Panel (2010)

​​​​Get to Know 2021-2022 PHSO

Erin

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA 

Undergraduate Degree: B.S. Health Science, Public Health - DePaul University 

Public Health Interests: HIV/AIDS (examining barriers to care/achieving each step in the HIV care continuum process), Harm Reduction/Overdose Prevention

Practicum Placement: AIDS Foundation of Chicago - Policy & Advocacy 

Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: The student/teacher ratio as well as the close knit relationships that are formed within our small wonderful cohort!! :) I am also very much so enjoying my practicum experience!

Hobbies: Exercising, reading, writing, skateboarding, drumming/percussion, karaokeeing

Fun Fact: I live right next to the rocky steps in philly! 

Horace

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Undergraduate Degree: Psychology

Public Health Interest: Environmental health, community based participatory research

Practicum Placement: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: Many public health concepts, data and issues are framed in the context of Chicago, with real-time examples and case studies often referenced in our courses. The city becomes our classroom!

Hobbies: DJing, photography, urban art and model railroading

Fun Fact: I can tell the difference between different CTA L train models (and their assigned routes) solely based off their sound on the tracks.

Funmilayo

Hometown: Houston, TX

Undergraduate Degree: B.S in Biology

Public Health Interest: Increasing healthy food availability in food disparity areas and promoting culturally sensitive behavior changes in communities at high risk for obesity related illness.

Practicum Placement: University of Chicago Medicine (UCM)

Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH program: The curriculum is greatly influential in studying public health practically and helps me envision real world solution applications.

Hobbies: all things art, also gardening

Fun Fact: I’m currently obsessed with trying to figure out how to grow cherry tomatoes in the living room of my apartment (hopefully my roommates won’t mind).
 
 
Keerthana Manoharan

Hometown: Chennai, India

Undergrad Degree: Bachelor of Dental Surgery

Public Health Interests: I would like to explore chronic disease management, maternal and child health, access to health care, from the lens of Social Determinants of Health

Practicum Placement: Sinai Urban Health Institute

Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: An amazing quality learning environment from the DePaul MPH program helped me to build effective networking and social capital for shaping my career.

Hobbies: Arts and crafts, Art Instructor-Township of Schaumburg

Fun Fact: Pandemic has encouraged me to make the best decision in my life to seek the company of two bird buddies, their names are Sky & Blu 

Rana
 
Hometown: Al-Na’Ani, Palestine
 

Undergraduate Degree: Health Administration with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies

Public Health Interest: Legal and regulatory aspects of healthcare with an emphasis on reforming hospital and community based programs

Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: Being able to network and learn from and with a passionate group of professors and public health representatives in a way that drives community.Hobbies: baking, exercising, talking 

Hobbies: Taking pictures, listening to podcasts and music

Fun Fact: I’ve seen one of the seven wonders of the world

Somara

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Undergrad Degree: Global Health Studies, Allegheny College

Public Health Interests: Environmental impacts on community health

Practicum Placement: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: I value the small cohort size and how the program allows pushes us to grow professionally as continue our academic careers through hands on community work.

Hobbies: cooking exercising, art, and all the plants

Fun Fact: I used to live in Bali, Indonesia

​​
​
​