2026 Alumni Fellow Connie Mendel Advances Public Health in Louisville

SPHIS alumna Connie Mendel reflects on how her MPH education helped shape her public health leadership and commitment to the Louisville community.

For Connie Mendel, being named the 2026 Alumni Fellow by the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS) is both an honor and an opportunity to give back to the school and community that helped shape her career.

Earning her Master of Public Health (MPH) at UofL helped propel her into an executive leadership role at the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW), where she continues to advance public health in the community where she lives and works.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to be named the 2026 Alumni Fellow,” she said. “At this point in my career, this recognition inspires me to give back to the University in any way I can and to continue engaging with SPHIS students and faculty to advance public health in Louisville.”

She credits the faculty, staff, mentors and colleagues who supported her professional journey, as well as the strong connection between SPHIS and Louisville’s public health community.

From science to public health leadership

Her path to public health began with a longstanding interest in the sciences, particularly biology, chemistry and environmental studies. That interest took on practical significance through her work conducting mosquito-borne disease testing and surveillance for the Jefferson County Health Department, where she helped support efforts to prevent vector-borne disease outbreaks.

When it came time to pursue her MPH, UofL was a natural choice. The University's strong collaborations with LMPHW, combined with SPHIS’s reputation for research and community contributions, made the program an ideal fit. She was already working regularly with SPHIS faculty, staff and students (and the school's location directly across the street from her office was an added benefit).

Her education continues to inform her leadership and public health practice. Coursework in health policy, health law and ethics, epidemiology, and population health provided knowledge and perspectives that remain relevant to her work today.

A university and community partnership

For Mendel, SPHIS’s impact extends beyond the classroom. She sees the school as a vital civic partner whose research, community engagement and collaborative approach help advance health and well-being across Louisville.

“UofL/SPHIS is special within the community with its elite research, as a dedicated civic partner and major driver of collaborative health and well-being,” she said. “UofL invests in its students and community.”

That connection between education and practice is especially meaningful in public health, where partnerships among universities, government agencies and community organizations can help address complex challenges and improve population health.

As an alumna and public health leader, she also sees opportunities to support the next generation of professionals by remaining engaged with SPHIS students and faculty.

Advice for the next generation of public health professionals

For those considering a career in public health, Mendel recommends connecting directly with professionals in the field and gaining firsthand experience through internships, job shadowing and volunteer opportunities.

Public health offers a wide range of career paths, she noted, spanning health care, academia, policy, research, disease investigation and prevention. Professionals can work in local, state or federal government, as well as community-based organizations and the corporate sector.

“There are so many paths within public health and opportunities to make transformational change,” she said.

She also has advice for established professionals navigating complex challenges: prioritize personal well-being, recognize accomplishments and seek out trusted mentors.

The COVID-19 pandemic took a significant physical and mental toll on many public health professionals, she noted, and some are still recovering. Practicing self-care and making wellness a priority is essential to sustaining a career dedicated to serving others.

She encourages professionals to reflect on what they have accomplished, celebrate their achievements and find mentors who can offer guidance and perspective at any stage of their careers.

And despite the challenges, she emphasizes the importance of remembering why the work matters: communities continue to need the services, expertise and commitment of public health professionals.

For Mendel, the Alumni Fellow recognition is a meaningful reminder of the impact public health professionals have on our daily lives.