The School of Public Health is delighted to announce several school wide awards each
academic year. These awards are an effort to recognize all of the great achievements
of our faculty, staff and students for their work at the school, in the community
settings of Memphis and beyond. These awards will be offered every year and will be
a moment of celebration for all!
University of Memphis School of Public Health Celebrates 2nd SPH Dean’s Awards
On May 9, 2025, the University of Memphis School of Public Health (SPH) hosted its
2nd SPH Dean’s Awards ceremony, honoring the outstanding contributions of faculty,
staff, and students during the 2024–2025 academic year. Thirteen individuals were
recognized for their exceptional achievements in Community Engagement, Commitment,
Research, and Leadership.
Dean Ashish Joshi highlighted the significant impact SPH is making both locally and
globally. He emphasized the school's dedication to building strategic alliances with
Memphis community stakeholders, which has strengthened its presence and influence
in the area.
Additionally, Dean Joshi noted the global reach of SPH’s Public Health Clubs in high
schools, a pioneering initiative aimed at inspiring and preparing the next generation
of public health leaders.
“The Dean’s SPH Awards serve as an opportunity to reflect on the phenomenal work our
faculty, staff, and students are doing to advance the field of public health,” said
Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor.
Photo Gallery
SPH Gallery - Dean's Awards 2025100100falsea7b2d0ed-711a-485a-95df-07a327dfb785.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-1.JPG100662nd SPH Dean’s Awards ceremony: Thirteen faculty, staff, and students were recognized for their exceptional contribution to SPH in the areas of Community Engagement, Commitment, Research, and Leadership
May 9, 2025
537f04be-7137-49e7-a9e9-063146446a03.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-2.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Graduate Student Merit, Research Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right), Dr. Maryam Karimi, Director of Research and Associate Professor (left) Namuun Batbaatar, PhD Student (Epidemiology) (center)
May 9, 2025
51781a16-6e59-429c-8d7e-3efd1e5123a6.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-3.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Faculty Community Engagement Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right) Dr. Lori Ward, Undergraduate Program Coordinator (left)
May 9, 2025
517ba516-c8ee-4730-b563-f15f0e5b722f.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-4.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Faculty Research Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right), Dr. Matt Smeltzer, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health
May 9, 2025
01975897-0e3f-4242-b103-2349cd58b139.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-5.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Faculty Teaching Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right), Dr. Xinhua Yu, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health (left)
May 9, 2025
005eea83-ec79-4c28-a49b-3a00e29bef6a.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-6.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Staff Leadership Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right), Jamecia Richardson, MPH, Coordinator, Experiential Learning and Career Services (left)
May 9, 2025
58f9dd98-3ac1-4e29-b96d-239ccfe40e18.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-7.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Undergraduate Student Merit, Community Service Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right), Marian Levy, DrPH, Associate Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement (left), Jeanbaptist Nizeyimana (center)
May 9, 2025
6fc0ceae-d63d-4236-93a2-342ddf47f595.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-8.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Graduate Student Merit, Community Service Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right) Marian Levy, DrPH, Associate Dean for Associate Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement, Rameshwari Prasad, PhD Student (Social and Behavioral Sciences) (center)
May 9, 2025
26fff572-ef61-4c9c-b10c-80fc66e2c9e4.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-9.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Graduate Student Merit Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right) Dr. Ilias Kavouras, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, EBE Division (left) Hannah Badley, PhD Student (Social and Behavioral Sciences) (center)
May 9, 2025
0f846f75-4390-473f-bd2d-df6f5c288109.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-10.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Undergraduate Student Merit Award: Research Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right) Dr. Maryam Karimi, Director of Research and Associate Professor (left) Olivia Manes (center)
May 9, 2025
9f80ec8d-4884-408b-bed2-30c890687527.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-11.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Dissertation Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right) Kelly Pimenta, PhD Student (Epidemiology) (left)
May 9, 2025
c54571bb-848f-4721-beb8-67c06755eb91.JPG20250509-sph-deans-awards-12.JPG10066SPH Dean’s Award: Undergraduate Student Merit Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (center) Fatmata Bah (right) Malise Greene (left)
May 9, 2025
b6c2814a-24f9-4fd3-8ff9-8c42aae227ba.jpeg20250509-sph-deans-awards-13.jpeg10066SPH Dean’s Award: Undergraduate Student Merit, Commitment Award: Dean Ashish Joshi, Dean and Distinguished University Professor (right) Dr. Ilias Kavouras, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, EBE Division, Hafsat Sani
May 9, 2025
2nd SPH Dean's Awards Ceremony
Dean’s SPH Faculty Awards
Dean’s Award for Faculty Research Dr. Matt Smeltzer, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental
Health
Dean’s Award for Faculty Teaching Dr. Xinhua Yu, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental
Health
Dean’s Award for Faculty Community Engagement Dr. Lori Ward, Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Awards for Staff Excellence
Dean’s Award for Staff Leadership Jamecia Richardson, Coordinator, Experiential Learning and Career Services
Dean’s SPH Award for Doctoral Students
Dean’s Award for Graduate Student Merit, Research Namuun Batbaatar, PhD, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health
Dean’s Award for Dissertation Kelly Pimenta, PhD, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health
Dean’s Award for Graduate Student Merit, Community Service Rameshwari Prasad, PhD, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Dean’s Award for Graduate Student Merit, Commitment Hannah Badley, PhD, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Dean’s SPH Award for Undergraduate Students
Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Student Merit, Community Service Jeanbaptist Nizeyimana
Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Student Merit, Commitment Hafsat Sani
Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Student Merit, Research Olivia Manes
Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Student Merit, Special Recognition Award Fatmata Bah
Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Student Merit, Special Recognition Award Malise Greene
Photo Gallery
Dean’s SPH Faculty Awards