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 2018-2019 Executive Board
Alanna (Persaud) Kaiser, President
Cherise Mangal, Vice-President
Monica Kowalczyk, Secretary
Denise Rodriguez, Treasurer
Matthew Bertagna, Undergraduate Representative
Katie Reget, Student Representative for the 2019 Cohort
Caryn Olivieri, APHA Campus Liaison
Muthana Sweis, Student Representative for the 2020 Cohort
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
- 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 2018-2019 PHSO
PRESIDENT: Alanna (Persaud) Kaiser
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Administration at George Mason University
Practicum Placement: DePaul Office of Health Promotion and Wellness- Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention
Public Health Interests: Women's Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Health Education
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: How practical and applicable our program is
Hobbies: Hanging out with my two dogs, exploring Chi-town (I just moved from DC a little over a year ago), and pretending to be a sommelier
Fun fact(s): I'm going to South Africa for my honeymoon and I'm going to go diving with sharks.
VICE PRESIDENT: Cherise Mangal
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Information Management at UIC
Practicum Placement: Action for Healthy Kids
Public Health Interests: Obesity, Maternal and Child Health, Health Disparities, Quality Improvement
Favorite Aspect of DePaul MPH Program: The open learning environment that allows us to ask questions
Hobbies: Reading, traveling, golfing, and hosting game nights
Fun fact(s): I own every season of Boy Meets World and Charmed on DVD.
SECRETARY: Monica Kowalczyk
Hometown: Park Ridge, Illinois
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Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Biology with Molecular Biology Emphasis, Minor in Music at Loyola University Chicago
Practicum Placement: Chicago Department of Public Health- NHBS Project CHAT
Public Health Interests: Opioid Crisis, Health Policy, and Sexual and Reproductive Health
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: Small cohorts- having the opportunity to interact with MPH students and all professors
Hobbies: Playing piano (plus exploring new music and checking out local concerts), reading (open to any book suggestions), and boxing
Fun fact(s): I speak Polish and continue to practice Spanish (both very useful in Chicago, especially in public health!)
TREASURER: Denise Rodriguez
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Sciences at DePaul University
Practicum Placement: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital- the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC)
Public Health Interests: Maternal and Child Health, Health Education, Health Equity
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: The concise, engaging curriculum and resources available for students
Hobbies: Hanging out with family and friends and traveling
Fun fact(s): I will be traveling to Europe for the first time in 2019 with my friends and family!
UNDERGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE: Matthew Bertagna
Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Animal Science at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Practicum Placement: Howard Brown Health-Aging Services
Public Health Interests: LGBTQ Health, Health Communications, Global Health
Favorite Aspect of DePaul MPH Program: The traditional classes and the length of the practicum
Hobbies: Watching the latest movies, hanging out with friends, and doing everything I can to annoy my two dogs
Fun Fact(s): I am conversational in four languages and working on my fifth!
STUDENT REPRESNTATIVE: Katie Reget
Hometown: Maple Grove, Minnesota
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Biology with a minor in History from DePaul University
Practicum Placement: DePaul Office of Health Promotion and Wellness- Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Public Health Interests: Antibiotic Resistance, Statistics, Health Programming
Favorite aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: The perfect intersection of public health and the mission of DePaul University
Hobbies: Petting dogs, eating sour patch kids, Harry Potter trivia, traveling the globe, and stretching
Fun fact(s): When I was 15 I went to an international gaming tournament for Super Mario Galaxy on the Nintendo Wii. I beat a bunch of 10 year old boys.
APHA CAMPUS LIASON: Caryn Olivieri
Hometown: Tempe, Arizona
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Kinesiology at Arizona State University
Practicum Placement: Presence Health, Community Health Department
Public Health Interests: Health Education, Community Health
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: How hands on the classes are
Hobbies: I really enjoy reading, attending yoga classes, and playing Pokemon Go!
Fun fact(s): I love the cold and the snow!
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE: Muthana Sweis
Hometown: Orland Park, Illinois
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Health Sciences: Health Policy & Administration
Practicum Placement: N/A
Public Health Interests: Sexual Safety and Health, Free Health Clinics, Obtaining and Understanding Health Insurance, Consulting
Favorite Aspect of the DePaul MPH Program: How knowledgeable my fellow students and professors are
Hobbies: Exploring the city, photography, music, film, and playing with animals
Fun Fact(s): I went to prom with Netflix.