Aug. 2 : Spelman and University of Michigan Offer Accelerated Master’s Degree in Public Health

Spelman and University of Michigan Offer Accelerated Master’s Degree

A new partnership between Spelman College and the University of Michigan School of Public Health will offer an accelerated pathway to earn a master’s degree in three public health disciplines.

In the five-year accelerated study program, students will earn a bachelor's degree from Spelman and a Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan.

The partnership expands on Spelman's background in collaborative education and programs, said Rosalind Gregory-Bass, M.D., C'92, director of the Health Careers Program, chair and associate professor in the Environmental and Health Sciences Department.

"The demand for public health specialists is unprecedented. The Spelman College Health Careers Program wants to provide a clear and seamless pathway for students to gain both their bachelor's and master's degrees," said Dr. Bass. "This short timeframe will allow us to meet the global demand for diverse biostatisticians, environmental health scientists and nutrition specialists. Spelman College and the University of Michigan will have a unique mutually beneficial partnership, not only focused on the career development of students, but that of faculty, as well."

Through the program, students will spend their first three years at Spelman taking courses to fulfill the requirements to earn a bachelor’s degree. In the third year of undergraduate study, students will apply for admission to the accelerated master’s program, and upon acceptance will begin graduate courses at the University of Michigan. Program candidates from Spelman are eligible to seek a Master of Science from Michigan Public Health’s departments of Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, or Nutritional Sciences.

For more information visit Spelman.edu

Economics Professor Helps Gen Z Understand Personal Finances

In the debut episode of "In the Know: Money with Marsai Martin," acclaimed actress and executive producer Marsai Martin, sat down with Suneye Rae Holmes, C'2004, Spelman economics professor, to break down the most pressing questions on the minds of Gen Z when it comes to personal finance.

"The future is here," said Holmes. "We know that even plastic cards are becoming obsolete now as we move with technology that works with biometrics. I can talk to a speaker in my home and buy something, I can use my fingerprint to pay at the point of service; these are the types of future technology that we're already embracing."

Financial literacy is crucial in closing today’s racial wealth gap, Holmes continued.

"We have a lot that we need to address in terms of how we value money, how we treat it, how we earn it and whether those means justify the ends," said Holmes.

Since its inception "In the Know" has been focused on spotlighting essential topics with diverse programs like "In the Know x Black Girl Podcast Presents: Enter the Chat to Black Changemakers," a special video series featuring discussions on topics ranging from self-love to financial well-being.

Environmentalist Tracks Climate Change Through UrbanHeatATL

Spelman scholars are teaming up with GA Tech to take a closer, scientific look at the impact of high city temperatures and why some neighborhoods feel the heat more than others.

The combination of rapid warming and a high prevalence of poverty among urban residents elevates the risk of heat illness and mortality during heatwaves.

"Historical and systemic injustices are kind of like preexisting conditions for communities that may be vulnerable to heat," Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, Ph.D., C'95, assistant professor in environmental and health sciences at Spelman, told Atlanta Magazine.

Along with Georgia Tech’s Dr. Kim Cobb, Dr. Jelks is the academic co-lead on Urban Heat ATL, a project organized to track rising temperatures when urban heat islands are the most pronounced.

"We really wanted to understand what the urban heat island effect looks like in Atlanta. Who is it impacting? We want to be able to use that data to make convincing appeals for policy and social change, if it’s indeed needed," said Dr. Jelks.

Atlanta ranks among the most heat-vulnerable cities in the country and is said to be warming more rapidly than all but two other cities in the United States.

Alumna Earns Accolades for Student Advocacy

The Global Forum for Education and Learning, a three-day conference that brings together leaders in the education sector, recently selected Heather Hawes, C’89, director of events at Spelman, to receive the Excellence in Education Award for 2021.

Hawes was selected for her work to develop engaging educational events and her support of Spelman students.

"I could not attend the conference in Las Vegas this summer, but I am honored to be selected along with a diverse group of international educators and professionals," said Hawes who presented her acceptance speech virtually. "This organization does amazing work worldwide."

An acclaimed planner with a strong reputation for her expertise in maximizing budgets for events, Hawes was the recipient of the 2013 Organizational Planner of the Year Award by Event Solutions, and the 2018 Atlanta Tribune Woman of Excellence.

At Spelman, Hawes is the founder of the Event Envoys, a self-guided training program for students interested in event management and hospitality. In her role as Director of Events, Hawes has produced several events including commencement activities with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, First Lady Michele Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Donna Brazile, Susan Rice and Valerie Jarrett.