Certificates and diplomas were awarded to 64 COPH graduates May 19 at Verizon arena. Graduates were from the following programs: Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Analytics, Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Public Health, Master of Health Administration, Master of Public Health, Doctor of Public Health, and Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, and Health Systems and Services Research. At commencement, the college was recognized by Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, for graduating a record number of students this year. Additionally he gave recognition to Jim Raczynski, Ph.D., professor, inaugural M. Joycelyn Elders, M.D., chair in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, and founding dean of the COPH, for his leadership and successful work in getting the college to its current state prior to stepping down as dean in December, 2018.

Convocation was held that morning a the Wyndham North Little Rock, where students and faculty were recognized for their success.

Congratulations to the 2019 COPH graduates and award recipients!

The following student and faculty awards were given out at convocation:

Student Awards

Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Inductees: Mary Kathryn Allison, Meghan Catherine Ayers, Clare Cecilia Brown, Lindsey Kristan Clark, Nakita Nicole Lovelady, Ashley Boccarossa McNatt, Earl Julian Morris IV, Grace Caroline Parham, Callie Elise Parks, Camille Marie Richoux, Christine Louise Rutlen, Jared Colby Stone, Susan Thapa

Dr. Jan S. Richter Health Behavior and Health Education Scholarship: Rebecca Stallman

The Edward F. and Carol C. Stewart Scholarship for Academic Excellence in Public Health: Samjhana Shakya

The Neil and Clara Spain Memorial Scholarship: Daniela Ramirez

The Fay W. Boozman Public Health and Community Service Scholarship: Lydia Famuyide

The David Bourne, M.D., M.P.H. Public Health Physician Memorial Scholarship: Kylie Hayes and Margaret Power

Outstanding M.H.A. Student Awards: Callie Parks and Jared Colby Stone

Jeanne D. Weiss Award: Tamara Havner

Sonya T. Askew Outstanding Public Health Student Award: Nakita Nicole Lovelady

Honor Graduates: Mary Kathryn Allison, Meghan Catherine Ayers, Lorenzo Joseph Baldwin, Phillip V. Borden, Jessica Lynne Boswell, Clare Cecilia Brown, Lindsey Kristan Clark, Andrew Hershel Cope, Arthur Curtis Davies, Tyler Harrison Easley, Mariah Fletcher, Laura Hayes Gocio, Chun Guo, John Hewett Hunton, Jonathan A. Laryea, Xin S. Li, Nakita Nicole Lovelady, Rachel An Lovell, Laura Denise Wagner MacLeod, Xiaocong Li Marston, H. Cass Martin, Ashley Boccarossa McNatt, Katherine Elizabeth Montgomery, Earl Julian Morris IV, Monisha Murugadass, Elizabeth Jane Necessary, Sarah N. O’Connor, Grace Caroline Parham, Callie Elise Parks, Mason Cole Qualls, Camille Marie Richoux, Christine Louise Rutlen, Dimple Himansu Shah, Kelsey Brooke Shaw, Jennifer Stane, Jared Colby Stone, Susan Thapa, Noel D. Thompson, and Xiaoyan Zhu

Faculty Awards

Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching: Tiffany Haynes, Ph.D.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Research: Holly Felix, Ph.D., MPA
Faculty Award for Excellence in Public Service: Keneshia Bryant-Moore, Ph.D., R.N.
Faculty Delta Omega Inductee: Paula Roberson, Ph.D.
Student Council Award for Outstanding Public Health Faculty Member: Ruth Eudy, Ph.D.

The following are the 2019 COPH graduates:

Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Data Analytics: Jessica Lynne Boswell, She’Mikia Denise Ford, Chun Guo, Jonathan A. Laryea, Laura Denise Wagner MacLeod, Patrice Moody, and Xiaoyan Zhu

Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Public Health: Ebony C. Duren and Ava Renece Rumph

Master of Health Administration: Lorenzo Joseph Baldwin, Andrew Hershel Cope, Cara Elizabeth Cox, Arthur Curtis Davies, Tyler Harrison Easley, Mariah Fletcher, Tamara Renea Havner, John Hewett Hunton, Roy Lee Hurst, H. Cass Martin, Sarah Elise Merlos, Katherine Elizabeth Montgomery, Elizabeth Jane Necessary, Lauren L. Nielsen, Grace Caroline Parham, Callie Elise Parks, Kelsey Brooke Shaw, Jessica L. Stahulak, Jared Colby Stone

Master of Public Health: Fahimeh Allahdadi, Erica Louise Avila, MEghan Catherine Ayers, Jessica Lynne Besancon, Phillip V. Borden, Lindsey Kristan Clark, Ebony Tanae Cotton, Alisha Ann-Marie Crump, Courtney Lynn Del Donno, Laura Hayes Gocio, Daniel Stephen Hedges, Tori Lynell Johnson, Sydney Shea Lewis, Xin S. Li, Jason A. Lochmann, Rachel An Lovell, Earl Julian Morris IV, Monisha Murugadass, Sarah N. O’Connor, Mason Cole Qualls, Camille Marie Richoux, Christine Louise Rutlen, Dimple Himansu Shah, Jennifer Stane, Jessica Lynnea Stone, Noel D. Thompson, Jessica Hailey Turner, and Shaima Faheem Zayed

Doctor of Public Health: Micheal Knox and Ashley Boccarossa McNatt

Doctor of Philosophy:

Epidemiology: Susan Thapa

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research: Mary Kathryn Allison and Nakita Nicole Lovelady

Health Systems and Services Research: Mir Murtuza Ali, Clare Cecilia Brown, and Xiacong Li Marston