Faculty, Staff, and Students to be Recognized with 2026 SPH Awards.
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Faculty, Staff, and Students to be Recognized with 2026 SPH Awards
Jaimie Gradus, Lois McCloskey, Karen Molloy, Brooke Nichols, Ryan Wisniewski, and Mai Hussein will receive awards at convocation.
Congratulations to the members of the School of Public Health community who will be honored with awards at the 2026 SPH Convocation!
2026 Podium Awardees
Mai Hussein, an MPH graduate, is the winner of the 2026 Leonard H. Glantz Award for Academic Excellence.
The Glantz Award is the highest award granted to a graduating MPH student at SPH. The award is named in honor of Leonard H. Glantz, emeritus professor of health law, bioethics & human rights, who served for 30 years as academic dean and demanded rigorous standards in curriculum and teaching throughout the academic program.
Glantz Award winners are nominated by faculty, and demonstrate exceptional academic performance, seriousness, and professionalism in public health.
Hussein worked as a dentist back home in Alexandria, Egypt for a decade prior to beginning her transition into public health through work in clinical research administration. She earned a Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation at Harvard Medical School in 2022 and worked at the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population prior to enrolling at SPH.
Hussein’s nomination letters highlight her “unparalleled research productivity” and “scholarly maturity well beyond what of typical master’s-level trainees.” Selected early in her studies to participate in the Epidemiology Excellence Program, for her academic strength and promise, Hussein went on to excel in her advanced epidemiology and biostatistics coursework. She complemented her academic prowess with extraordinary initiative, write her nominators, noting that Hussein undertook at least six competitive research opportunities and fellowships, resulting in presentations at five conferences and the publication of a first-author, peer-reviewed manuscript with more to come.
Hussein’s nominators praise not only her methodological and analytics skills, but also her interdisciplinary depth. Her projects spanned a broad swath of domains—cancer epidemiology, social determinants of maternal and child health, environmental exposures, mental health, and chronic disease epidemiology—and involved collaborations with numerous faculty spanning the Departments of Epidemiology, Community Health Sciences, and the Center for Trauma and Mental Health.
As a Cancer Epidemiology Education in Special Populations (CEESP) Program Fellow, Hussein evaluated the prevalence, economic burden, and healthcare utilization of oropharyngeal cancer patients using national insurance claims data leading within weeks to an article in a leading cancer epidemiology journal.
Hussein has also somehow found time to reinvest in the SPH community as a student ambassador, peer mentor, student group participant, and Think. Teach. Do. Fellow. Her work with Veronika Wirtz to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in the Department of Global Health was recognized last May with the 2025 DEIJ Student Award.
“Mai’s intellectual curiosity, creativity, discipline, and capacity for integrating complex ideas exemplify the high standards set by Professor Leonard Glantz,” reads one nomination letter. “Her trajectory as a clinician scientist and public health scholar is outstanding, and her contributions already reflect the potential for lasting impact on the field.”
Lois McCloskey, clinical professor of community health sciences, is the winner of the 2026 Norman A. Scotch Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Named after SPH’s founding dean who worked to make education a hallmark of the School, the Scotch Award is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to the education program at SPH.
Faculty, staff, and students alike praise McCloskey as a national leader in maternal and child health whose 30-year career in public health is defined by her exceptional commitment to teaching, training, and mentoring the next generation of public health professionals. McCloskey has led the BUSPH Center of Excellence in Maternal & Child Health since its inception in 2008, convening a broad network of mentors across New England and the United States to provide exceptional education, training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to MPH and DrPH students. Her dedication to equity in education and passion for social justice is evident in all of her efforts, including the Center’s Diversity Scholars Leadership Program and MCH Fellowship Program.
In addition to serving as chair of the Department of Community Health Sciences multiple times, McCloskey played a fundamental role in reshaping the MPH curriculum to a certificate-based program, and is currently the codirector of the MCH Certificate. “Dr. McCloskey embodies what this award is meant to recognize: sustained excellence in education, deep investment in students, and a track record of building learning environments that are rigorous, practice grounded, and genuinely transformative,” one of her nominators writes.
Her commitment to maternal and child health is only matched by her commitment to BUSPH, with one nominator stating that McCloskey “is a fierce advocate in all she does, bringing students to have meaningful engagement with the challenges of moving the needle on maternal and child health.”
McCloskey’s teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that students learn best with applied practice. From “Implementing Community Health Initiatives: A Field-based Course in Leadership and Consultation” to “Women in Health Policy “ and “Sexual and Reproductive Health Advocacy: From Rights to Justice,” students and faculty praise her innovative course design that “bridges the gap between academic learning and professional practice in a way that is deeply formative for students at every level.”
Multiple nomination letters attested to McCloskey’s personal investment in the growth of her students and fellow faculty, with one nominator writing that she “mentors with unusual generosity and consistency, investing time and care in the development of those around her, including early career faculty like me. She has reshaped how I think about pedagogy, not by offering abstract advice, but by demonstrating what effective teaching looks like in preparation, in facilitation, and in how you show up for students.”
Jaimie Gradus, professor of epidemiology, is the winner of the 2026 Faculty Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship.
This honor is given annually to recognize a faculty member for a distinguished body of scholarly or scientific work on a specific topic or within a general area of expertise.
Gradus is both nationally and internationally renowned for her expertise in the field of psychiatric epidemiology, where she has made numerous influential contributions ranging from expanding the definition of trauma to encompass a broader spectrum of human experiences to delivering evidence on the effective treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She has received more than $30 million dollars in research support over the course of her career to date, resulting in more than 150 scientific publications—many in leading psychiatry and epidemiology outlets, such as JAMA Psychiatry, American Journal of Epidemiology, and Epidemiology—and her work has been cited nearly 9,000 times.
Gradus notably spent years collaborating with Danish health researchers to link Danish health and census records to create a uniquely powerful database for ongoing mental health research. The project has already led to several groundbreaking discoveries for the field, including the identification of suicide predictors that had been previously overlooked. Gradus is currently principal investigator on seven studies funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, including a study leveraging the Danish database to investigate the mental and physical health consequences of suicide loss on the deceased’s social network.
Gradus also leads work at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where her team found that a drug for hepatitis C was associated with PTSD symptom improvements. The VA and BU have since filed a patent for the use of this drug for PTSD treatment, which will help the VA purchase the drug at a reduced price for patients and continue gathering evidence of its efficacy.
In addition to her prolific research portfolio, Gradus also has several past and current leadership roles to her name, including as an editor of the American Journal of Epidemiology, as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and multiple National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine committees, and as a Scientific Advisor to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She has previously been honored for her work with several lifetime and career awards, including the Carol J. Rowland Hogue Outstanding Midcareer Achievement Award from the Society for Epidemiologic Research and the Breslau/Murphy Award from the American Psychopathological Association.
In a nomination letter in support of Gradus, her colleague writes, “Critically, Dr. Gradus is also an excellent collaborator and mentor: she brings together investigators and students from diverse disciplines, fosters inclusive and productive teams, and supports trainees and colleagues with thoughtful, respectful feedback. Her combination of rigorous science, methodological creativity, policy-relevant insight, and commitment to collaboration makes her an ideal candidate for the BUSPH Faculty Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship.”
Karen Molloy, director of administration for the Department of Biostatistics, is the winner of the 2026 Dzidra J. Knecht Staff Award for Distinguished Service.
The highest award for school service that can be given to a staff member at SPH, the Knecht Award recognizes staff who have made outstanding and sustained contributions to the administrative functioning of their departments and therefore the School. It is named in honor of Dzidra J. Knecht, the School’s first associate dean for administration, who spent 30 years working for the University, 20 of them at SPH.
According to one nomination letter, Molloy is just who the Department of Biostatistics needed two years ago when she became the department’s director of administration. Despite assuming the role during a “period of consideration transition and challenge” that included staffing shortages, outdated workflows, and ongoing pressures, one nominator says Molloy “masterfully addressed these challenges with determination, skill, and a deep sense of responsibility.”
Molloy has continuously demonstrated “steady and thoughtful leadership” amid unforeseen challenges and times of uncertainty within the department, prioritizing transparent communication and regular engagement with staff and faculty during a transitional period of departmental leadership, as well as overseeing day-to-day operations in the department chair’s two-month absence due to a family medical emergency.
Molloy “demonstrated a willingness to go well beyond standard expectations, dedicating additional time and effort to support the department and the school during a critical period,” the nominator wrote.
Molloy’s outsized contributions were especially evident after the elimination of two staff positions in the department. Molloy assumed the full scope of those roles in addition to her own, “ensuring continuity of critical functions without disruption.” She also worked closely with departmental colleagues and the associate dean for administration and finance on multiple initiatives, “demonstrating exceptional collaboration and institutional stewardship.” At the same time, Molloy led efforts to streamline administrative and financial processes, strengthening compliance, improving efficiency, and reinforcing fiscal responsibility across departmental operations.
Molloy’s leadership and work ethic “have resulted in a more stable, resilient, and effective administrative environment within the Department of Biostatistics.”
“Karen has very quickly become one of her department’s best stewards and key caretakers,” the nominator wrote. “Her accomplishments and citizenship embody the spirit of this honor, and her impact will continue to benefit SPH for years to come.”
Brooke Nichols, associate professor of global health, is the winner of the 2026 Award for Excellence in Public Health Practice.
This honor is presented annually to a faculty or staff member who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to the health of populations through advocacy work, community engagement, and/or public policy endeavors.
After the federal government abruptly suspended US foreign aid in January 2025, slashing critical funding for HIV services that affected more than 20 million people living with the disease in 55 countries, Brooke Nichols responded by building a real-time, data-driven Impact Counter within days, “making the human cost of the policy decision visible to the world.”
On the site’s dashboard, Nichols provided up-to-date calculations of increases in mortality, disease spread, and healthcare costs for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, neglected tropical diseases, and malnutrition. The individual tracker for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—the bipartisan US global initiative that facilitates HIV testing, treatment, and preventive services in 50 countries—”represents a new model of evidence-based public engagement,” according to one nomination letter. Grounded in peer-reviewed epidemiological methodology and validated by multiple academic cohorts across disciplines, the tool translated complex modeling into real-time estimates of lives affected by donor withdrawal. The live tracking ended earlier this spring, as the initiative was built to project impacts over the course of one year, but the estimates are still viewable, capturing the human cost of federal decisions even as the consequences continue.
“The Impact Counter has demonstrably shaped the national conversation,” one nominator wrote. “Its findings have been referenced in Congressional hearings and cited in formal correspondence from both the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Senior government officials have publicly disputed its estimates—itself a marker of influence—prompting further inquiry and public accountability.”
The tool has also been referenced by peer institutions and advocacy organizations as a critical resource for grounding policy discussions in credible, transparent data, the nominator wrote. Nichols’ work has been cited in news outlets such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Salon, The Associated Press, Newsweek, NPR, PBS, and NBC, as well as many foreign outlets.
“This work exemplifies the highest ideals of public health practice: methodological rigor deployed in real time, in service of populations most at risk, at the precise moment when evidence is needed most.”
Ryan Wisniewski, director of the practicum program in the Career and Practicum Office, received the 2026 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Award.
Now in its third year, this award honors a faculty or staff member who has done extraordinary work promoting diversity, equity, and justice and cultivating a culture of inclusion throughout the School.
In the eight years that Wisniewski has worked at SPH, he has endeared himself with colleagues, students, and practicum partners alike for his steadfast commitment to diversity, equity and justice and active efforts to build a welcoming and inclusive culture at the School.
A nomination letter submitted on his behalf reads, “Ryan embodies the spirit of this recognition through his daily actions, his leadership, and his quiet, consistent advocacy for students who most need a place of safety, belonging, and affirmation. His work is woven into the fabric of how he shows up for our community every single day.”
Within the Career and Practicum Office, Wisniewski is credited with being a key force behind ensuring events, policies, and processes are equitable and accessible. His colleagues note is often the first to raise questions about fairness, representation, and unintended barriers to access, and he does so in such a way as to invite collaboration rather than defensiveness. For example, when the school launched the Generation Health fund to support students who undertake unpaid practica on behalf of community organizations, Wisniewski led the development of the application criteria. He advocated for lived experience including social identities, self-reported financial need, and extenuating circumstances to be all be considerations in awarding the funds. After the success of his approach, he was invited to present it at the annual 2025 BU D&I Values in Action Summit.
The letter goes on to read, “Ryan advances justice not only through programs and policies, but through the everyday choices that shape a culture: who he listens to, who he advocates for, and how he uses his role to shine light on those who need it most.”
As a co-leader of the faculty practicum committee during the past five years, Wisniewski has shown great tact in balancing the interests of students with the workload placed on faculty, earning the committee praise as a favorite among faculty. He has also established himself as a trusted mentor and advisor to students of a variety identities and backgrounds, particularly first generation students and those who identify as LGBTQ+. For the past three years, he has served as advisor for Queer Alliance, a student organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ visibility and community building.
Another nominator writes of Wisniewski, “It is common to see him gently ushering an anxious or overwhelmed student into his office, no matter what deadline he is facing or what task he is in the middle of. Students seek him out because they know they will be met with compassion, steadiness, and respect. Ryan models what it means to treat every student with dignity and care.”
Additional 2026 Awardees
Congratulations also to the following faculty, staff, and students who will be honored at a school-wide Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 15.
Faculty
Excellence in Teaching Award for Teaching in the Core: Timothy Callaghan
Excellence in Teaching Award for Student Engagement: Kipruto Kirwa
Excellence in Teaching Award for Dedication to Student Learning: Nancy Scott
Excellence in Teaching Award for Outstanding New Instructor: Meredith Brooks
Excellence in Research Early Career Award: Mary Willis
Excellence in Research Innovation Award: Kevin Nguyen
Excellence in Research Mentoring Award: Patricia Hibberd
Educational Innovation: Emily Goldmann
Staff
Staff Excellence Award in Collaboration: Alexandra Grigore
Staff Excellence Award in Mentorship or Training: Stephanie Grady
Staff Excellence Award in Leadership: Clara Chen
The Karen Smith Award: Stacey Cunnington
Students
Excellence in Student Services & Leadership Award: Srishti Gupta
Excellence in Student Success & Leadership Award: Mikayla Hyman and J Steinman
Student Award for Excellence in Public Health Practice: Maria Pilar Botana Martinez
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Student Award: Jennifer Madu
Eugene Declercq Award for Excellence in a Public Health Practice Dissertation: Omonyele Adjognon
Community Health Sciences “Rising Star” Award: Ruth Seyoum
Restuccia Award for Achievement in Social Justice in Community Health: Meera Rao
James F. Burgess Award for the Best Student Paper in Health Services Research: Yufei Li and Yi-Jung Shen
Allan R. Meyers Memorial Award for Excellence in Health Policy & Management: Bryce Church and Grace Connors
David K Jones Award for Commitment to Health Policy and Social Justice: Ramla Hagi and Serenity Wang
Dr. William B. Patterson Memorial Prize for Excellence in Environmental and Occupational Health: Matthew Guerra
Dr. Theodore Colton Prize for Excellence in Epidemiology: Mai Hussein
Epidemiology Academic Excellence Award: Eliza Pentz
Center for Health Law, Ethics and Human Rights Award: Rachel Ma
The John Snow, Inc. Award in Global Health: Aayushi Pagnis
Herb Kayne Prize for Excellence in Biostatistics: Johanna Sprangler
Biostatistics Excellence in Research Award: Yijia Wu
The Sherri Oliver Stuver Award: Ruby Barnard-Mayers
Innovative Practicum Award: Brice Hirwa, Nadia Hill, Krista Idowu, Fariel LaMountain
