The core group consists of recent alumni who have dedicated their time to engage the CUNY SPH alumni community. This group organizes events and disseminates content throughout the academic year to bring alumni together to keep them connected to the school as well as each other.
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Alumni Network Core Group
AJ Brown
SPH alum stats: MPH, Health Policy and Management, Spring 2017
Current role & organization: Business Analyst, Benefits Policy; The Church Pension Group Services Corporation
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-brown/
Undergraduate Degree: BA in Political Science and Philosophy, Fordham University
Why are you a proud CUNY SPH alum? SPH offers incredible opportunities to meet and work with a diversity of driven individuals engaged in a wide range of disciplines. The faculty is world class, many of them at the fore of public health practice in New York City and around the globe. The “CUNITY” at SPH is unparalleled!
Favorite SPH course and why: One of my favorite courses at SPH was Public Health Law. Learning the legal history of the field and exploring the balance of individual liberty with public health interests is part of the reason I decided to go to law school after graduating from SPH.
Favorite public health-related book/movie/show: The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson — a classic among public health students. My photo is from a visit to the site of the fabled Broad Street Pump in London.
Personal fun-fact: My hobbies include running and Cleveland baseball.
Alessandro Ciari
SPH alum stats: MPH, Community Health, May 2020
Current role & organization: Head of Growth & Partnerships, Firefly Innovations
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandrociari/
Undergraduate Degree: Public Health, Montclair State University
Why are you a proud CUNY SPH alum? Because I am part of a community that is truly instigating healthy progress in our society.
Favorite SPH course and why: Social marketing, because it is so creative, constantly evolving, and is ripe for innovation.
Favorite public health-related book/movie/show: How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Personal fun-fact: I happen to be an avid gardener and compost master, as my current project is revitalizing negated backyards in Brooklyn and creating access for community composting.
Margrethe Horlyck-Romanovsky
SPH alum stats: DrPH, Community Health and Social Sciences, Spring 2018
Current role & organization: Assistant Professor, Brooklyn College, CUNY
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margrethehr/
Undergraduate (and other) Degrees: BS in Nutrition, Ankerhus Seminarium, Denmark; MPH, Hunter College.
Why are you a proud CUNY SPH alum? Because everybody is working on a diverse social justice agenda towards better and more equitable public health.
Favorite SPH course and why: Dissertation supervision with Terry Huang, because he is an amazing mentor! (Truth be told I never took any other courses at the SPH… nevertheless my overall favorite in the doctoral program)
Favorite public health-related book/movie/show: Book: The Warmth of Other Suns; Movie: Contagion; Show: Call the Midwife!
Personal fun-fact: I take great pride in serving as kayak escort for long distance open water swimmers. Favorite race? 8Bridges, 120Miles from Catskill Bridge to the Verrazano Bridge.
Ritu Jain
SPH alum stats: MPH, Health Policy and Management, Spring 2017
Current role & organization: Data and Outreach Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritu–jain/
Undergraduate Degree: BA Anthropology, CUNY Brooklyn College
Why are you a proud CUNY SPH alum? I was part of the first graduating class of CUNY SPH!
Favorite SPH course and why: HPAM 665: Health Service Strategies to Improve Population Health. Professor Haley touched upon information that has been very useful and relevant to my career.
Favorite public health-related book/movie/show: The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Personal fun-fact: I love to grow veggies in the garden but end up giving the majority of them away, especially the squashes.
Jennie Kaufman
SPH alum stats: MPH, HPM, Fall 2016
Current role & organization: Research Associate, Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging at Hunter College
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniekaufman/
Undergraduate Degree: BA, liberal arts, New School for Public Engagement
Why are you a proud CUNY SPH alum? CUNY is the people’s school! And public health is about so much more than health: economics and justice, for example, but it’s also about learning to move forward together.
Favorite SPH course and why: Advanced Health Economics with Alexis Pozen, because I’m a nerd.
Favorite public health-related book/movie/show: Two books: Paul Farmer’s “Infections and Inequalities” helped push me into public health, and Steven Johnson’s “The Ghost Map” was a great read. Favorite movie maybe “Contagion.”
Personal fun-fact: I fulfilled a longtime dream when I went to a dachshund race in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Vanson Lee
SPH alum stats: MPH, EOHS, May 2020
Current role & organization: Program Manager, FeedNYC – United Way of NYC
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanson-lee
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelors of Arts, Fordham University
Why are you a proud CUNY SPH alum? I was born and raised in NYC. Being part of a school and community in the city I was born in inspires me to do more for my community. SPH provides an opportunity for my peers to obtain a quality education within the communities they were raised in and I’m happy to be a part of it.
Favorite SPH course and why: EOHS Fundamental to Environmental Health (EOHS 610) with Bret Ericson was my first ever class in public health. I realized in this class how broad this field is and how much needs to be done to protect and sustain the world. This class inspired me to go the EOHS route for my concentration and I’ve never looked back since.
Favorite public health-related book/movie/show: Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker (Book)
Personal fun-fact: I’m competing in the the first ever Inaugural World Sleep Championships this year (https://www.worldsleepchampionships.com/) After reading my favorite book “Why We Sleep” by M. Walker, I started tracking my sleep/sleep cycle and now I am pitting myself against 31 other sleep racers (worldwide) to be crowned the world sleep champion.
Sydney Leone
SPH alum stats: MPH, Public Health Nutrition | Spring 2018
Current role & organization: Senior Program Manager, Health Promotion @ MVP Health Care
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneyleone/
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Public Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Why are you a proud CUNY SPH alum? I am proud to be affiliated with an institution that supports diversity and supports an equitable approach to public health.
Favorite SPH course and why: Health Program Planning and Funding – It was so hands on and provided me with invaluable experience and information as it relates to understanding how nonprofits operate and funding. I had the opportunity to work with a local nonprofit and develop a grant application for them to solicit funding. I still reference the textbook we used for this class!
Favorite public health-related book/movie/show: Book: The Invisible Cure / Pod: What The Health?
Personal fun-fact: I am a first degree black belt in Bushido Karate.
Pavan Lohia
SPH alum stats: MPH, CHSS, May 2020
Current role & organization: Clinical Researcher, Mount Sinai Hospital & Program Fellow, National Science Foundation
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lohiapavan/
Undergraduate Degreel: BS, Public Health Sciences & Business Management, University of California, Irvine
Why are you a proud CUNY SPH alum? SPH serves one of the greatest cities in the world, combined with phenomenal faculty and students, I’m proud to be a graduate of an innovative public health school. I utilize the skills and relations I’ve developed at SPH to serve in my various public health roles.
Favorite SPH course and why: CHSS 695- Public Health & Politics ,was truly one of my favorite courses with Prof Sergio Costa because of the topics and also the impact such politics has on American Healthcare. This course furthered my passion to eventually use my public health background and pursue involvements in politics.
Favorite public health-related book/movie/show: House M.D.
Personal fun-fact: I’ve traveled to over 25 cities and 6 countries for Tiesto concerts.
Katrina F. Mateo
SPH alum stats: PhD, CHSS, May 2020
Current role & organization: Patient Innovation Lead, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinafmateo
Undergraduate Degree: BA, Vassar College; MPH, Columbia University School of Public Health
Why are you a proud CUNY SPH alum? Knowing that my education and training was enriched by incredibly intelligent, passionate, colleagues of diverse race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, SES, professional role, sector, etc.)
Favorite SPH course and why: Organizational Leadership with Prof. Cohen – expanded my understanding of and perspectives on leadership; it also deeply influenced my adoption of collective leadership in my management roles