Yale School of Public Health students of color gathered in Harkness Ballroom April 14 for a night of socialization and networking as part of the annual Alumni of Color Panel & Networking Night, planned by the YSPH Emerging Minority Student Association (EMSA). The purpose of the night was to strengthen connections between students and alumni of color to further YSPH’s efforts relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“I’m extremely proud of the hard work our executive board has put into making the Alumni of Color Panel & Networking Night a success,” said Tola Gbadamosi, MPH ’24 (Health Care Management). “Based on the feedback I’ve received from alumni and students, this event served a pertinent need in the YSPH community, and I look forward to growing these new connections.”
The panelists included Marta Elisa Moret, MPH ’84, president of Urban Policy Strategies, LLC; Renee D. Coleman-Mitchell, MPH ’86, former commissioner at the Connecticut Department of Public Health; Kevin P. Nelson, MPH ’92, CEO at Aetna Better Health of New York; Pamela Sutton-Wallace, MPH ’97, chief operating officer at Yale New Haven Health; and Alicia L. Whittington, PhD, MPH ’06, assistant director of engagement and health equity research for the Football Players Health Study at Harvard Medical School.
“The networking night was so rewarding. I was very inspired by the students – our future public health leaders,” said Kimberly S. Vasquez, MPH ’15 (Social & Behavioral Sciences), who is Clinical Trials Project Manager at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation. Current students also expressed how much they liked the event.
“It was great to see how alumni utilized their degree after graduating, said Victoria “Tori” McClaire, MPH ’24 (Chronic Disease Epidemiology). I also love hearing how they handle racism/discrimination in the workplace and how they incorporate health equity in their work.”
Larissa Chia, MPH ’24, added, “It was a great networking opportunity. I’d love to attend more of these – super-inspiring!”
To learn more about or connect with EMSA, follow the group on Instagram @emsa.ysph or contact ’23-24 co-chairs Omar Guerrero (omar.guerrero@yale.edu) and Tola Gbdamosi (tola.gbdamosi@yale.edu).