As a student-centered institution, we take immense pride in cultivating the next generation of public health leaders. We don’t just teach—we invest in people.
This year, that investment bore fruit with two bold new programs: our Doctorate in Public Health and the BS in Public Health at Imperial Valley, both exceeding expectations and advancing equity and excellence. Students are gaining global experience, from Vietnam to Mexico, through thriving binational partnerships. Professional growth is also fourishing, with events like the Public Health Career Fair and leadership from student organizations.
At this critical moment in public health, our students appreciate the continued support of donors like you. Many face fnancial barriers that threaten their futures. Thanks to you, we’re able to provide scholarships, tuition support, and hands-on opportunities that are essential—not optional. Your ongoing generosity empowers tomorrow’s changemakers and strengthens the health of generations to come.
Eyal Oren, Ph.D., MS Professor and Director College of Health and Human Services, School of Public Health
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward
The Baytop MPH Endowed Fellowship
This fund established an endowed fellowship award for graduate students enrolled in the Master of Public Health – Management and Policy program at San Diego State University.
The fellowship is exclusively designated for students who have earned a degree from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), refecting a deep commitment to advancing equity and representation in public health leadership.
Class of 2025 Graduates
Thriving in the Aztec Experience
Khushi Shah, Class of 2025
Class Level: Undergraduate Student
College: College of Health and Human Services
Major: Public Health
SDSU’s School of Public Health provided me with the resources, opportunities, and support to grow both academically and professionally, while preparing me to make a meaningful impact in the feld.
A transformative part of my college experience was joining Students for Public Health. Starting as a member and eventually serving as secretary, vice president, and president, I found both purpose and community. Faculty, lecturers, and staf generously supported our initiatives and shared their time and expertise.
As a research assistant in the Action Research on Community Health Equity and Stigma (ARCHES) Lab under Dr. Jennifer Felner and Dr. Jerel Calzo, I contributed to research focused on advancing health equity and social justice in underserved communities. I participated in community engagement, data collection, analysis, and dissemination—witnessing frsthand how public health research drives systemic change.
Diverse and engaging courses deepened my knowledge across key areas such as epidemiology, health policy, and behavioral sciences. With a 3.98 GPA, I was honored to be named the Outstanding Graduate of Public Health and to receive the Leadership and Emerging Professional Awards. I’m deeply grateful to SDSU for shaping my future in public health.
I’m deeply grateful to SDSU for shaping my future in public health.
Loretta Sosa Ortiz, Class of 2025 Class Level: Graduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services
Major: Master of Public Health - Health Promotion and Behavioral Science
Loretta is a Latina and a frst-generation graduate student whose drive to advocate for medically underserved communities deepened during her master’s program at San Diego State University.
As a graduate research assistant in the Aceves Health Equity Research Lab under Dr. Benjamín Aceves, she co-led the ACCESS study with San Ysidro Health, exploring how social needs and limited healthcare access impact chronic disease risk in rural Eastern San Diego County. She conducted indepth interviews to capture participants’ lived experiences, contributing to eforts to promote health equity in underserved communities.
Loretta received the CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Health Professions Scholarship and the Summer Research Experience Stipend. She will work with Dr. Barbara Baquero at the University of Washington on the Nuestro Valor project.
She was also awarded the Trainee Award to attend the 2024 North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) Annual Meeting in Québec City and participated in a global public health experience in Vietnam led by Gary Rotto.
She extends her deepest thanks to Dr. Aceves, Dr. Schmied, Dr. Felner, Dr. Bloom, and Gary Rotto for their mentorship and support.
Loretta, a frst-generation Latina graduate student, drives health equity by researching social barriers and chronic disease risks in underserved San Diego communities.
Celebrating Shared Success
Recent Rankings
The School of Public Health is ranked No. 27 nationally among more than 190 schools and programs in public health.
Statistics of Interest
16 campus-based and online degree programs, including our new Bachelor of Science in Public Health in Imperial Valley
Over $30M in annual research funding
5 academic disciplines
More than 120 active grants
Over 70 faculty members
1,000+ students served across degree programs and modalities, from undergraduate through advanced graduate studies
100% of graduate students gain feld experience in public health
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.
Home to the nation’s only academic Public Health and Human Services department: the Live Well Center for Innovation and Leadership—a formal partnership between the County of San Diego and SDSU.
No. 27
Leadership
Ranked No. 27 nationally, the School of Public Health stands among the top institutions out of more than 190 accredited schools and programs in public health across the U.S.
Serving 1,000+ students, 70+ faculty, and 120+ grants, we lead with innovation—home to the nation’s only academic Public Health & Human Services department.
Benjamín Aceves, Ph.D., MPH, MA
Title: Assistant Professor College: College of Health and Human Services Achievement: My research and community engagement activities have highlighted the health disparities and social needs faced by Latino farmworkers.
Specifcally, I have collaborated with community-based organizations and leaders to identify and address barriers to health care, particularly regarding access to primary care services. This collaborative work has led to funding to examine the mechanistic impact of social needs on cardiometabolic indicators and their connection to barriers in accessing primary care.
Additionally, we have secured funding to establish SDSU’s presence among farmworker communities through the inaugural SDSU Farmworker Wellness Day, which provided a range of preventive health services to farmworkers in the Imperial Valley, delivered through community units led by SDSU faculty. This work will continue to leverage communityclinical partnerships to further address health disparities among Latino farmworkers.
At a time when many in our Latino communities feel uncertain, it is essential to support our Latino farmworkers through preventive services and maintain a strong presence in the community so they feel supported by SDSU. Events such as the SDSU Farmworker Wellness Day refect our ongoing commitment to these communities.
I have collaborated with community-based organizations and leaders to identify and address barriers to health care, particularly regarding access to primary care services.
Faculty Achievements
Paula Stigler Granados, Ph.D., MS
Title: Associate Professor and Environmental Health Division
Head
College: College of Health and Human Services
Achievement: Dr. Paula Stigler Granados stands at the center of one of America’s most urgent environmental health crises: the toxic contamination of the Tijuana River Valley, which is sickening communities along the U.S.-Mexico border and in nearby beach towns.
When raw sewage, industrial chemicals, and urban runof began fooding into some of San Diego’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, Dr. Stigler Granados didn’t remain behind a desk. She entered the feld, using drones to access contaminated zones too dangerous for people and, with her students and colleagues, collected air, water, and soil samples. Their groundbreaking analysis has already identifed thousands of chemicals, with more data currently being processed to inform communities and policymakers.
Responding to calls from residents, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and elected leaders, she also launched a health survey that uncovered disturbing realities: 77% of residents report respiratory issues, three-quarters sufer from frequent headaches, and 80% of families keep children and elders indoors to avoid toxic hydrogen sulfde gases.
By working with grassroots advocates and mentoring students, she has built a movement that unites academic research with real-world action. Her team created a public, real-time data website, turning science into a tool for transparency and empowerment.
The impact? As science advisor to the San Diego Air Pollution Control District’s Governing Board, her work is now shaping policy. This isn’t just research—it’s a long-term fght for dignity, health, and environmental justice.
“When I see families forced to keep their children indoors because the air outside makes them sick, when Navy SEALs get violently ill from contaminated water during training, when entire communities live with the daily reality of toxic exposure—I know this work is about more than data. It’s about justice. My role isn’t just to document sufering; it’s to transform that evidence into action. This research, built through genuine partnership with afected communities, challenges systems of environmental injustice and creates pathways to real change and healing.” —Dr. Stigler Granados
