The 2026 Dean’s Awards were presented at a ceremony at The Hope Club on April 16, 2026. Congratulations to all the winners.
Office of the Dean
2026 Dean’s Awards
Congratulations to our award winners and thank you for your hard work and service to our school and public health initiatives around the globe!
2026 Dean’s Awards
Congratulations to our award winners and thank you for your hard work and service to our school and public health initiatives around the globe!
Faculty and Staff Awards
Awards for Faculty Excellence
1
of
6
Alexandria Macmadu, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
2
of
6
Nisha Trivedi, Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy & Practice
3
of
6
Ying Ma, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Edens Family Assistant Professor of Healthcare Communications and Technology
4
of
6
Shira Dunsiger, Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
5
of
6
James L. Rudolph, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Health Services, Policy & Practice
6
of
6
PACE Organization of Rhode Island
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Community Engagement
- Alexandria Macmadu, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching
- Nisha Trivedi, Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy & Practice
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research Collaboration
- Ying Ma, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Edens Family Assistant Professor of Healthcare Communications and Technology
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring
- Shira Dunsiger, Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
- James L. Rudolph*, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Health Services, Policy & Practice
*We presented Jim with his award in front of his family and colleagues at a ceremony hosted by the Division of Biology and Medicine on March 13th, prior to his passing on March 26th.
Dean’s Community Partner Award
- PACE Organization of Rhode Island
Awards for Staff Excellence
1
of
2
Brian Gully, Project Coordinator, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
2
of
2
Wendy Hernandez, Medical Lab Technician, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Leadership
- Brian Gully, Project Coordinator, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Innovation
- Wendy Hernandez, Medical Lab Technician, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
Public Health Research Day Awards
Top Graduate & Postgraduate Posters
- Ian Liu, Sc.M. Biostatistics
A Deep Learning Framework for Protein Expression Prediction from Histology Images - Amos Okutse, Ph.D. Biostatistics
A Knowledge-infused multitask deep learning framework for longitudinal risk prediction and counterfactual modeling - Jadyn Howard, MPH Health Services, Policy & Practice
Implicit Bias Education for Future Health Leaders: Curriculum Strategies and Reflections - Miranda Mergens, MPH Epidemiology
Ultra-processed food consumption and cardiometabolic risk among US adolescents: Evidence from the HOME Study - Ella Abourjaily, MPH Behavioral & Social Sciences
Outcome measurement for a school-based child sexual abuse prevention intervention amidst national reading-level delays
Top Undergraduate Posters
- Elena Hurtado Solberg, Behavioral & Social Sciences
Facilitators and Barriers to SNAP Participants’ Awareness and Utilization of a Statewide Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program in Rhode Island - Tenasica Barnwell, Behavioral & Social Sciences
Impact of perinatal mental health and neighborhood on the association between maternal early life stress and parenting - Meray Nemr, Behavioral & Social Sciences
Neuropeptide-S independently modulates impulsivity, reward-seeking, self-administration, and attention - Pooja Yerneni, Biostatistics
A SEAIHCRD Compartmental Model for Characterizing Early COVID-19 Pandemic Transmission Dynamics: Insights into Unmitigated Epidemic Dynamics - Kate Choi, Health Services, Policy & Practice
Testing Legal Claims: Hospital Mergers & Acquisitions and Service Line Availability - Pierre Jolin, Health Services, Policy & Practice
Hospital Prices, Cost-Shifting, and Resource Allocation: Evidence from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017