Student Leaders Selected to Serve on School-Wide Committees.
Student Leaders Selected to Serve on School-Wide Committees
Over the next year, these students will work alongside SPH faculty, staff, and administration to develop school policies, enhance the research environment, and share feedback on educational programs.
As the spring semester begins, new student representatives for school-wide committees at the School of Public Health are stepping into their roles.
Over the course of their one-year terms, these students will work alongside faculty, staff, and administration to develop school policies that better support students, enhance the research environment, and share feedback on educational programs at SPH. They will be full voting members of the committee that they represent, and will serve as the voice of all SPH students.
This year, committees with a student representative include the Governing Council, the Boston University Medical Campus (BUMC) Student Services Committee, the Education Committee, the Practice Advisory Committee, and the Research Committee.
The Governing Council is the senior governance of the School, comprised of all associate deans, all department chairs, schoolwide center directors, a representative from the Faculty Senate, and a student representative. This group is responsible for planning, budgeting, space, schoolwide policy setting, and other strategic activities.
Bukiwe Sihlongonyane is this year’s student representative on the Governing Council, and she says she is excited to bring her energy, open-mindedness, and positive outlook to the role. Throughout her time in this position, Sihlongonyane will report to the Governing Council on student matters, as appropriate, and will serve as the primary liaison between the Dean’s Office and the Student Senate.
“I wanted to be a student representative because I am really interested in gaining a deeper understanding of what it takes to successfully deliver the education we are getting here at SPH,” says Sihlongonyane. “I am excited for this opportunity to serve as a resource for the SPH student body.”
The BUMC Student Services Committee functions as a school-based problem-solving team, with a central goal of improving on-campus resources available to the BUMC community. The committee is made up of faculty, administration, and student representatives from each of the four schools/programs on the medical campus, which include SPH, the School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences, and the School of Dental Medicine.
Tessa Sagarino is this year’s SPH student representative on the BUMC Student Services Committee. In her role, she hopes to share with her peers about the various resources and organizations offered to them on the medical campus, while also suggesting to members of the committee ideas and feedback from other students about what resources they would like to see offered on campus.
Sagarino has worked in various other student-facing roles throughout her time at SPH and recognizes the important role that student organizations and resources to enhance support play in the student experience. “During a time as unpredictable as now, it is important for us to create and maintain communities that students can lean on,” she says.
The Education Committee oversees all of the educational programs at SPH. The committee reviews proposals for new programs, competencies, and courses; manages the student course evaluation process each semester; and evaluates the School’s educational offerings to ensure a cohesive educational environment.
Nicole Herrera is this year’s student representative for the Education Committee. In her role, she hopes to use the educational skills she acquired throughout her time in Teach for America to inform the adaptability of the SPH curriculum and contribute to establishing systems that are accessible and appropriate for every type of learner.
“I am looking forward to gaining a better understanding of how decisions and educational policies influence and shape our school community, and how we can better adapt them to maximize the student experience,” says Herrera. “I am excited for the opportunity to advocate for my peers through initiatives that have an impact both on campus and in their future public health careers.”
The Practice Advisory Committee highlights, promotes, and synergizes public health practice activities across the School to ensure these activities are accessible to all members of the SPH community. The committee is comprised of the associate and assistant deans for practice, as well as a representative from all academic departments, the Activist Lab, and the student body.
Aditi Kothari is this year’s student representative for the Practice Advisory Committee. Over the next year, Kothari will help gather data on practice activities happening within each academic department to provide the SPH community with a vivid picture of the state of public health at the School, as well as opportunities for growth.
“I hope that by helping to identify and promote the practice-based work happening here at SPH, I can encourage greater student involvement to further advance public health practice both at SPH and within our surrounding community,” says Kothari.
The Research Committee makes recommendations on administrative policies to enhance the research environment and the research productivity of faculty members at SPH. The committee evaluates pilot grant applications from faculty, as well as strategies for securing external funding, and planning for seminars and symposia that are hosted by the School.
Joel Agarwal is this year’s student representative for the Research Committee. In his role, he hopes to bring his passions for academic governance, public health, and research together to ensure research-focused policies are fair, encourage student involvement, and promote the work of the School.
Prior to joining SPH, Agarwal was very involved in undergraduate research and recognizes the important role that research can play in the student experience. “I want to communicate this importance to my peers and advocate for more opportunities for students to participate in faculty-wide research here at SPH,” he says. “There is an incredible sense of joy when you are able to find and study something you are passionate about.”
Learn more about student participation on school-wide committees here.