School of Public Health
MPH Student Featured on UofM President’s Perspective
Thursday, 05 November 2026
Sydney Ward, who is earning her master's degree in Biostatistics, is also a National Champion & World Medalist Baton Twirler with the UofM Tigerettes.
Prior to joining SPH, Sydney deliberated going into the nursing side of healthcare as an undergraduate, but after an internship in her final semester with a professor at the University of Memphis School of Public Health she discovered her passion for public health.
Sydney says that once she discovered how vital the field of public health is for the functioning of a healthy society, she decided to switch the focus of her master's study to Biostatistics.
She believes that the welcoming environment cultivated here at SPH has made her feel confident that, despite having a background closer to health sciences, she would still be able to thrive and credits the faculty with always being willing to go the extra mile to help students take their next steps.
Sydney is very active on campus as a graduate assistant in the housing and residents' life department for leadership development. She is also the President of the Public Health Student Association (PHSA). She says she loves being involved in different organizations on campus, trying to help see how to build a more inclusive community here in Memphis.
Sydney says the main motivation for her work is the desire to give back to the community that has given so much to her.
Watch Sydney’s interview on the President’s Perspective or below:
MPH Student Featured on UofM President’s Perspective
The Office of Communications at The University of Memphis School of Public Health