An Auspicious Start for the Incoming Class

The campus brimmed with new beginnings. On August 31, the incoming class of more than 640 Columbia Mailman School students arrived on campus for a weeklong orientation. Faculty leaders welcomed new students and highlighted the potential for a rewarding academic experience and life in public health.

Seize the Moment

In introductory remarks, Michael Joseph, Vice Dean for Education, remarked, “You’re coming to Mailman from different places with different experiences, different interests, and different aspirations. But beginning today, you all share something very important. You are part of the Mailman community.”

Dean Joseph urged students to learn from and support one another as “friends, colleagues, and collaborators.” He added, “Take advantage of everything this community has to offer. And know that there are people throughout this school who are genuinely excited that you are here and deeply invested in your success.”

Follow Your Passion

In his own remarks, Dean Jonathan Mermin spoke of public health’s potential to improve the world and save lives, saying, “You are entering a vitally important field with a lifetime of purpose and meaning.”

Dean Mermin acknowledged ongoing challenges to public health in the U.S. As the federal government pulls funding from public health, measles cases in the U.S. have reached a 35-year high, to cite one example. Yet vital public health work goes on, and the Columbia Mailman community—students included—continues to make tangible progress in areas such as violence prevention, environmental health policy, healthy aging, and beyond.

He exhorted students to find their own purpose and passion. He recalled conducting research for his master’s thesis years ago, an experience involving collecting stool from pet reptiles and amphibians as part of a study of human Salmonella infections. While unpleasant at times, the work was rewarding because he knew it would make a difference in people’s lives—a takeaway applicable to public health work writ large.

“There are few more satisfying jobs [than when you are] working as part of a team than seeing tangible improvements in health, whether a single person, a city, or a country. And you will be able to do that here and for the rest of your life,” the Dean concluded. 

Find Your Own Path

Heather Butts, Associate Dean for Field Practice, echoed the message about taking advantage of opportunities in public health—particularly those outside the classroom. She spoke about projects she leads in collaboration with students and New York City community members. These include the Clementine Collective, which works to improve healthy food options in New York City, and Untold Stories, which gives visibility to overlooked public health leaders and communities, past and present.

Butts challenged students to dream big and pursue their own passions, adding that the possibilities in public health are endless. “I’m happy to be your champion and your partner in the work that you want to do,” she said.