Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Career Day
Our MPH students recently attended the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Career Day, led by Dr. Torhonda Lee. This experience proved to be both inspiring and rewarding for our students as they explored the many possibilities within the field of public health. Throughout the event, students gained greater clarity about the purpose and impact of public health work, as well as the diverse career pathways available to them through their training at Tuskegee University and beyond. The experience helped connect classroom learning with real-world public health practice, reinforcing their commitment to making a difference in their communities.
A highlight of the visit was meeting Dr. Kenneth W. Harrison, Director of the Workforce Development Office of Human Resources. Dr. Harrison shared valuable information about workforce development initiatives and internship opportunities, providing students with practical guidance on preparing for successful careers in public health.
James Wilcher, Public Health Student, Class of 2028, shared his reflections on attending the ADPH Public Health 101 Career Day in Prattville. He described the experience as highly informative and engaging, providing valuable exposure to the many organizations within the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and the wide range of career opportunities available in the public health field. He noted that the event offered a welcoming environment where he was able to interact with professionals and gain a deeper understanding of public health practice at both the community and state levels.
According to James, the highlight of the event was the laboratory tour, which provided firsthand insight into the critical role ADPH plays in disease detection and prevention through biological and chemical testing. Following the experience, he expressed his intention to maintain connections with the professionals and organizations he met during the event and hopes to pursue an internship opportunity with ADPH in the future.
ADPH Career Day
The Tuskegee University, College of Veterinary Medicine's (TUCVM) Department of Graduate Public Health, CVM-Tuskegee University (DGPH) under the leadership of Department Head Dr. Torhonda Lee welcomed its new Graduate Public Health Program's Class of 2028 students today during its New Student Fall Orientation program which was held at the Williams-Bowie Hall Conference Room. New DGPH students include Jayda Howard (hometown: Atlanta, Georgia), Laci Martin (hometown: Compton, California), James Wlicher (hometown: Columbia, South Carolina), and Kristen Driver (hometown: Cleveland, Texas).
DGPH students attended sessions during orientation to include the following: Program Overview, Academic Expectations, Advising, Career Placement Services, Research and Advanced Studies, as well as introductions of DGPH Faculty and Staff, MPH Student introductions, lunch and closed out with a campus tour.
2026 National African American Child and Family Research Center (NAACFRC) Community-Engaged Research Conference
Dr. Nelson Oranye attended the 2026 National African American Child and Family Research Center (NAACFRC) Community-Engaged Research Conference, held July 29–30, 2026, at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference focused on community-engaged research in early care and education, social and economic mobility, and issues relevant to health disparities and the social determinants of health affecting African American children and families. The conference was a great opportunity to connect with organizations and individuals across the country doing research and projects on African American Child and Family issues. I was exposed to some of the supported pilot projects and effective strategies people have used to build community networks and collaboration on health and social problems affecting African American child and family.
NAACFRC Conference
On behalf of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) Department of Graduate Public Health (DGPH), the TUCVM family is invited to the Annual Public Health Pinning Ceremony on Wednesday, April 29 from 4:30 to 5:30 P.M., in the Williams-Bowie Hall Conference Room. Former DGPH faculty Dr. Lloyd Webb will deliver the Charge. Dr. Webb is recognized for his years of distinguished service and as a champion of One Health. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony. Open Flyer
Pinning Ceremony 2026
Reclaiming Our Legacy: Back to the Future of Public Health National Public Health Week 2026 - Panel Discussion - Tompkins Ballroom | Lunch 11:30 AM | Panel 12:00 Noon Open Flyer
This year's National Public Health Week theme — Ready. Set. Action! — is a call to reflect on how far we have come and to recommit to the steps needed for a healthier future. There is no more fitting place to answer that call than Tuskegee University. It was Booker T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee Institute, who launched what would become National Negro Health Week in 1915, recognizing the direct connection between community health, living conditions, and economic progress. Tuskegee Institute served as the headquarters of that movement, reaching thousands of African Americans from 1915 until 1951. That legacy of innovation, advocacy, equity, and community-centered care is the very foundation on which today's public health profession stands — and the standard we are called to reclaim. Join us as the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Graduate Public Health honors that legacy with a timely conversation on where we go from here. Our panel of distinguished scholars and practitioners will explore how public health leaders can reclaim that founding spirit — building systems, training the next generation, and closing the gaps that persist more than a century later.
Public Health Seminar featuring our distinguished guest speaker, LCDR Christina Waters, MPH, CPH, CP-FS, COR I, who will speak on the topic: “20/20 Vision: Two Decades of Public Health Lessons You Can Use Today. Read More
Tuskegee University, College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) Department of Graduate Public Health’s (DGPH) Dept. Head Dr. Torhonda C. Lee oversaw the hosting of Dr. Yvonne Bronner to the Tuskegee University Research Center for Maternal Child and Family Health. Dr. Bronner’s two-day visit was hosted at TUCVM’s DGPH on January 22-23, 2026.
Dr. Bronner gave a presentation to the Tuskegee group entitled “Creating a Culture of Maternal Health Research.” At TUCVM, Dr. Bronner visited with the Research Team Workgroup, DGPH students and faculty and Dean Gilbreath.
The Tuskegee University Research Center for Rural Maternal Child and Family Health members in photo include (L to R): Johnpaul Kagulire, doctoral fellow; Dr. Cordelia Nnedu, Co-PI TU; Dr. Yvonne Bronner, Principal Investigator of the Coordinating Center at Morgan State University ; Dr. Torhonda Lee, Principal Investigator; Dr. Jamilah Page-Anfieonam, Lead Consultant (A Fresh Page, LLC); and Mr. Abraham George, Co-PI.
