This past July, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) named Caroline Arias and Victoria Salinas, two USF College of Public Health (COPH) MPH in epidemiology  students, ambassadors for their This Is Public Health (TIPH) initiative 2022-2023 cohort.

ASPPH launched the TIPH Ambassador program in 2017. Nominated by their institutions, students who participate as ambassadors help raise awareness about the field of public health by leading virtual events, taking over the TIPH social media accounts and contributing to projects and presentations to assist in the growth of interest in public health education and careers.

Arias and Salinas have the honor of being part of the largest cohort to date, with 59 graduate students representing 40 schools and public health programs.

“As a TIPH ambassador, I’m excited to play a part in expanding awareness of public health activities and to help future students discover that there is ample opportunity for them in this field,” said Arias. “I also enjoy the chance to connect with peers across many institutions, learn from their experiences and collaborate on shared interests. I love that the program gives us a space to get creative with our passions and work on unique projects!”

“In this role, I hope to foster interest in the field of public health by strategically engaging with my local community and supporting efforts in grassroots recruitment and pipeline building,” Salinas said.

As a first-generation college student from an immigrant family, she also emphasized the importance of her role as an ambassador in inspiring the next generation of students to pursue public health.

“I am excited to showcase the wonderful folks and research of COPH during ASPPH social media takeovers, as well as introduce local K-12 students to epidemiology and public health,” Salinas said.

Story by Parker Guevarra, USF College of Public Health