College of Health and Human Services
School of Public Health Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Message from Leadership
Dear Donor, The School of Public Health at SDSU is deeply committed to preparing the next generation of public health leaders, researchers, and changemakers through transformative opportunities and educational experiences. This year, we launched our innovative three-year Bachelor of Science in Public Health pathway, expanding access to education while accelerating student success and workforce readiness. Students also participated in a meaningful study abroad program in Chile focused on environmental health and community-based public health practice. More than 50 students presented research at the SDSU Student Symposium, and our Research Speaker Series and career-focused events connected students with public health professionals and employers. Your support helps provide scholarships, hands-on learning, conference participation, and international opportunities that prepare students to lead in an increasingly complex public health landscape. Together, we can empower the next generation of advocates, innovators, and health equity champions whose work will improve lives for generations to come.
Eyal Oren, Ph.D., M.S., FACE School of Public Health Director
Philanthropy
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward The Baytop MPH Endowed Fellowship Fellowship support is especially meaningful in the College of Health and Human Services, where students often balance demanding coursework, labs, and research opportunities. With this support, students can thrive by focusing on their studies, engaging in discovery, and preparing to become global citizens, compassionate leaders, and ethical innovators. The School of Public Health received generous support for The Baytop MPH Endowed Fellowship, which provides fellowship support to graduate students in the Public Health Management and Policy program. The fellowship helps students pursue advanced study, leadership development, and applied learning experiences that prepare them to address complex public health challenges and improve community health.
2026 SDSU Graduates
Student Spotlight
Thriving in the Aztec Experience Linda Salgin, Class of 2026 Class Level: Joint Doctoral College: Health and Human Services Major: Public Health - Health Behavior Linda Salgin earned her Ph.D. in Public Health from the San Diego State University and University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program, where her work focused on advancing health equity and reducing tobacco-related disparities in underserved communities. The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) provided Linda with the mentorship, resources, and rigorous research training needed to design and lead a mixed-methods study within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Her research examined disparities in tobacco screening and cessation counseling, identified barriers faced by health center staff, and informed a program to strengthen tobacco cessation efforts. Linda was named Graduate Student of the Year and received both the Elizabeth Barrett Connor Legacy Dissertation Award and the CHHS Graduate Student Research Award. She currently serves as Senior Program Manager at San Ysidro Health, where she applies implementation science methods to improve the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based programs. The partnerships she developed through CHHS continue to strengthen collaborations between academia and community health systems to advance health equity.
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Congratulations Linda for being named Graduate Student of the Year and received both the Elizabeth Barrett Connor Legacy Dissertation Award and receving the CHHS Graduate Student Research Award!
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Student Spotlight
Maria Angela Soto, Class of 2027 Class Level: Ph.D. Candidate College: Health and Human Services Major: Public Health - Global Health Management The SDSU DrPH Global Health Management program has strengthened my confidence as a systems-level leader. The blend of didactic learning and real-world application has equipped me to propose workforce improvement initiatives that align with the needs of my workplace and agency. The program challenges me to think about systems, workflows, workforce improvements, and equity in ways that directly inform my day-to-day leadership. This spring, I developed a community outreach-to-clinic pipeline proposal to support Community Health Worker (CHW)-led Medicaid payment models and an accompanying evaluation simulation using tools learned in the program. I shared this work with senior management as part of broader efforts to advance CHW payment pathways. The opportunity to immediately apply classroom concepts to operational challenges has been one of the most valuable aspects of the program. The SDSU DrPH program has deepened my ability to lead, design, and advocate for equity-driven public health systems. The program has expanded how I approach complex public health challenges within my agency and the communities we serve.
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The SDSU DrPH program has deepened my ability to lead, design, and advocate for equity-driven public health systems.
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Student Spotlight
Eli Durant, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services Major: Public Health: Pre-Med Track My experience in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) at San Diego State University has played a major role in preparing me for the next chapter of my academic and professional journey. As a public health student on the pre-medical track, I have gained a strong foundation in health promotion, program evaluation, and health equity while developing the critical thinking and leadership skills necessary for graduate school. Through my coursework and involvement in Students for Public Health, Women in Medicine, Dance Marathon, and community service initiatives, I learned how public health extends beyond the classroom and directly impacts communities. CHHS challenged me to think critically about complex health issues and develop evidence-based solutions. The mentorship and opportunities within CHHS gave me the confidence to pursue ambitious goals, including admission to Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, where I will begin my MPH this fall. I feel well prepared for graduatelevel work and grateful for the faculty, staff, and peers who supported my growth.
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I have gained a strong foundation in health promotion, program evaluation, and health equity while developing the critical thinking and leadership skills necessary for graduate school.
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Points of Pride
Celebrating Shared Success Current Rankings Ranked No. 26 in the nation out of more than 190 schools and programs in public health. Statistics of Interest 70+ faculty across five academic disciplines 1,200+ students served across undergraduate and graduate programs 17 campus-based and online degree programs, including the new BSPH in Imperial Valley 3-year BSPH pathway 120+ active grants and $30M+ in annual research funding 100% of graduate students gain field experience in public health Major research centers and institutes The only academic public health and human services department in the nation: Live Well Center for Innovation and Leadership—a formal partnership between the County of San Diego and SDSU. Recent Highlights Received the prestigious national Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Harrison C. Spencer Award for Outstanding Community Service in 2025.
No. 26
School of Public Health ranks No. 26 nationally among 190+ schools and programs in public health.
National Honor
SDSU earned ASPPH’s Harrison C. Spencer Award for Outstanding Community Service, a prestigious national honor.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Paula Stigler Granados, Ph.D., M.S. Title: Associate Professor, Public Health College: College of Health and Human Services Achievement: Dr. Paula Stigler Granados was appointed by Gov. Newsom to the California Air Resources Board and coauthored a 2025 Science publication documenting hydrogen sulfide air pollution sickening Tijuana River Valley communities, the first peer-reviewed study linking the polluted river to a regional air quality crisis. She shared the following about her research: This past year, my research in the Tijuana River Valley reached into the rooms where policy is made. I was honored to be appointed by Governor Newsom to the California Air Resources Board, bringing environmental health science directly into decisions that protect millions of Californians. I was also a co-author on a 2025 study in Science, the first peer-reviewed research linking the polluted river to a regional air quality crisis, which measured hydrogen sulfide far beyond health standards and validated what residents had reported for years. Through our Healthy Water, Healthy Air study, we surveyed more than 400 border community members and found a population living under daily strain: 74% reported upper respiratory symptoms, 77% reported headaches, and 62% reported trouble sleeping, while 85% were exposed to foul odors every week. Two-thirds had started closing their windows more often, and nearly half had installed home air filtration to cope. We turned this data into action and, drawing on the ECHO model I helped pioneer to educate providers on Chagas disease, I will now lead sessions helping local clinicians recognize and address these health concerns. We also built a public website to share findings directly with the community, alongside the Tijuana River Coalition and other partners. I also continue my longstanding work on Chagas disease, partnering closely with county health and vector control programs, a One Health approach connecting human, animal, and environmental health along the border. The most important part of all of this work isn't the data, it's the people behind it. Our survey gave residents' experiences weight, and from my seat on the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, I've advocated for getting air purifiers into homes, a temporary fix, but a start I won't stop expanding. This is what environmental justice looks like: not studying a community from a distance, but standing alongside it.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Alan Card, Ph.D., MPH, DFASHRM, FHEA Title: Assistant Professor, Public Health College: College of Health and Human Services Achievement: Assistant Professor Alan Card has been recognized as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Fellowship is an international award that acknowledges professional achievement as a university-level educator and demonstrates that an individual's teaching practice is aligned with the Professional Standards Framework (PSF) for Teaching and Supporting Learning in Higher Education. It is awarded based on peer review of a portfolio and supporting references that provide evidence breadth and depth in the application of the PSF to an individual’s teaching practice.
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Congratulations, Dr. Card, on being recognized as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)!
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Thank you for your generous support.
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