Alumni Awards
Celebrating the contributions and achievements of Dornsife alumni who have had distinguished careers in the field of public health.
From left to right: Gina S. Lovasi, Dana and David Dornsife Dean; Jamile Tellez Lieberman, DrPH '21, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement, Research and Health Equity at Esperanza (Recent Alumni Award); and Cassandra Kercher Crifasi, PhD, MPH '10, Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Distinguished Alumni Award)
Each year, the Dean's Office requests nominations from the Dornsife community via social media and the Dornsife SPH newsletter to recognize the accomplishments of our outstanding alumni.
The Alumni Awards recognize outstanding alumni in two categories: recent and distinguished. The Recent Alumni Award highlights graduates who have completed their degree at Dornsife School of Public Health (DSPH) within the last 5 years. The Distinguished Alumni Award highlights alumni who have made significant contributions throughout their career.
All are encouraged to nominate individuals or self-nominate. Please note that individuals may be nominated for multiple awards, but can only receive one award per year.
Recent Alumni Award
A successful candidate for this award should have:
- Completed a DSPH educational program and received an academic degree in the past five years
- Achieved important and promising accomplishments in the past five years and have exceptional promise for future success; and
- Demonstrated strong interest and commitment to the mission, vision, and values of DSPH.
Our most recent honoree (for 2025-26) was Jamile Tellez Lieberman, DrPH '21, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement, Research & Health Equity at Esperanza
In 2024-25 we honored Erin Nipps, MPH '24, Program Analyst in the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health.
In 2023-24 we honored Kristin Roadman, MPH '23, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Distinguished Alumni Award
A successful candidate for this award should have:
- Completed a DSPH educational program and received an academic degree offered by the School of Public Health
- Made significant contributions throughout their career in any of the following categories: leadership, practice, teaching, research, community or to DSPH
- Attained recognition and respect for their accomplishments, and
- Demonstrated strong interest and commitment to the mission, vision, and values of DSPH.
Our most recent honoree (for 2025-26) was Cassandra Kercher Crifasi, PhD, MPH '10, Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
In 2024-25 we honored Palak Raval-Nelson, PhD '08, MPH '02, Health Commissioner in the City of Philadelphia's Department of Public Health.
In 2023-24 we honored Noel Ramirez, DBH, MPH '12, MSW, LCSW, BCD, Founder of Mango Tree Counseling & Consulting, LLC.
Drexel Magazine’s 40 Under 40
Drexel Magazine's 40 alumni under 40 features Drexel graduates who are succeeding in business, science, public service, academia, charitable ventures and, artistic endeavors.
Honorees who graduated from the Dornsife School of Public Health include:
Dornsife's 2024 honorees
Dornsife's 2023 honorees
Dornsife's 2022 honorees
Dornsife's 2021 honorees
Dornsife's 2020 honorees
2025 Dornsife award winners from left to right: Erin Nipps, MPH '24, Program Analyst, City of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health (Recent Alum Awardee); Gina S. Lovasi, Dana and David Dornsife Dean; and Palak Raval-Nelson, PhD '08, MPH '02, Health Commissioner, City of Philadelphia's Department of Public Health (Distinguished Alum Awardee).