We Are Public Health: Spotlighting SPHIS’ 25-26 TIPH Ambassadors

Article written by SPHIS Student Ambassador Michael Massey

Four graduate public health students from the University of Louisville (UofL) School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS) served in the 2025-2026 This is Public Health (TIPH) Ambassador Cohort, a program hosted by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, to assist program recruitment efforts by showcasing current student experiences. Olufunmilayo Babarinde, doctoral student in the Dept. of Epidemiology & Population Health, Chandrima Chatterjee, doctoral candidate in the Dept. of Health Management and Systems Sciences, Yahthreb Mohammed, doctoral candidate in the Dept. of Health Management and Systems Sciences, and Bhawana Yadav, Master of Public Health student in the Dept. of Epidemiology and Population Health, represent a variety of public health backgrounds at UofL SPHIS. In their role, they hosted virtual events, created social media content and developed projects promoting public health nationwide.

Olufunmilayo Babarinde

For Babarinde, the ambassadorship has been an exercise in purposeful advocacy. Through her work with TIPH, she has supported virtual career events for prospective students, created educational content on the connection between environmental quality and optimal health and served as a co-moderator for the TIPH book club. Her efforts exemplify the program’s intention: connect people who share a passion for public health while equipping them with the leadership skills to champion it.

Chandrima Chatterjee

Chatterjee brought two years of ambassadorship experience to the cohort. For her, TIPH has been about far more than research and communication. It has been a vehicle for leadership, transformation and collaboration. Her continued involvement reflects not only her dedication, but the lasting value the program offers to those who invest in it. She shared, "Being a part of this program also helped me navigate public health in terms of professional development, networking and broadening my ideas.”

Yathreb Mohammed 

Mohammed describes her ambassadorship as a meaningful experience that has deepened her commitment to both public health and community engagement. Representing SPHIS on a national stage, she strengthened her own leadership and communication through inspiring prospective students by sharing the mission and impact of public health education. She spoke to the spirit of the entire cohort saying, “I'm grateful to be part of a community that is passionate, collaborative and driven to create positive change."

Bhawana Yadav

Yadav was drawn to the program by the opportunity to engage with public health at a national level. She broadened her understanding beyond her concentration of epidemiology through the ambassador check-ins, collaborative meetings and awareness-raising projects. Balancing her TIPH role alongside her involvement as an SPHIS Student Ambassador, Yadav has sharpened her ability to communicate public health concepts clearly and confidently in-person and online. Reflecting on the program she says, “TIPH is an excellent program that connects students and programs nationwide. It provides valuable insight into how public health impacts populations and offers opportunities to interact with professionals in the field.”

SPHIS is proud to see the impact these four TIPH ambassadors have made so far, and can’t wait to see what’s to come.