Careers
The College offers career services for undergraduate and graduate students through our Office of Public Health Practice and Partnerships
Our Public Health Ambassadors are available to meet with students on an appointment basis to provide career counseling. They are dedicated to helping students prepare themselves for a career in public health and health care offering:
- Resume review and guidance
- Job interview advice
- Referrals for internships, applied practice experiences (APE), job shadowing, and job openings
Please with one of our Public Health Ambassadors and get to know them here!
The Ambassadors offer virtual career sessions each semester. To see the list of upcoming sessions, visit our Events webpage.
Archived Career Session Videos
Looking for a specific session? Email publichealth@kent.edu
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Fall 2025 Sessions
Meet a Health Policy Analyst and Alumnus
September 3, 2025
Robert Hakes, MPH, and Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at Cleveland’s MetroHealth System and 51ºÚÁÏÍø College of Public Health alumnus, discusses his career path and opportunities for public health graduates in health policy development.
Meet a Public Health Professional in the Food Service Industry
September 17, 2025
Cedric McMickle, Senior Manager, Total Quality, with Darden, a nationwide food service corporation with ownership of multiple nationwide restaurant chains, and a College of Public Health graduate student, discusses his career path through public health and private industry.
Meet an Environmental Health Professional
October 1, 2025
Mary Helen Smith, MPH, CPH, RS, REHS, retired Environmental Health Director at the Portage County Health District, discusses her career path and opportunities for public health students and graduates with an interest in the environment and environmental health.
Meet a Local Health Commissioner
October 15, 2025
Becky Lehman, MPH, MPA, CHES, Health Commissioner at the Portage County Health District, discusses her career path and opportunities for public health students and graduates in local public health practice.
Meet a Data Scientist and College of Public Health Alumna
October 29, 2025
Lauren Birmingham, PhD, Senior Lead Scientist at the technology and consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton and 51ºÚÁÏÍø College of Public Health alumna, discusses her work in health care data analytics and opportunities for public health students and graduates with an interest in this field.
Meet a College of Public Health Faculty Member
November 12, 2025
Rob Kollin, MSM, MS, Lecturer in the College of Public Health, discusses his career path and his previous experience working in the health insurance and IT industries.
Meet a Career Advisor from 51ºÚÁÏÍø Career Exploration and Development
December 3, 2025
Mac Smith, Senior Career Advisor at 51ºÚÁÏÍø Career Exploration and Development, discusses career and job readiness services available for public health students from his office.
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Spring 2025 Sessions
Ambassadors' Career Series - Meet the Dean of the College of Public Health
January 29, 2025
Join the Public Health Ambassadors for a conversation with Dr. Sonia Alemagno, Dean of the College of Public Health.
Student Learning and Job Opportunities at Oriana House
February 12, 2025
Dr. Alec Boros and GJ Farina from Oriana House, the Akron-based mental health and recovery services provider, will discuss student learning and job opportunities for public health students.
Career Opportunities in Philanthropy
February 26, 2025
Adrianne Price, MPH, Vice President, Community Impact at the United Way of Stark County, and College of Public Health alumna, will discuss her career in philanthropy and opportunities for public health graduates in this field.
Ambassadors' Career Series - Meet a Recent College of Public Health Alumnus
March 19, 2025
Dedonte Cheatham, College of Public Health alumnus (MPH 2024), discusses his career path in environmental health and epidemiology at the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
Careers in Behavioral Health Services
April 9, 2025
Hattie Tracy, President & CEO of Coleman Health Services, will discuss her career, her organization and career opportunities for public health students.
Internship and Job Opportunities in Local Health and Human Services Agencies
April 16, 2025
Mark Frisone, Executive Director of Family and Community Services, with offices in Kent, Ohio and throughout northeast Ohio, will discuss opportunities for public health students and graduates in community health and human services programs.
Meet a College of Public Health Alumna and Student Preceptor-Instructor at Akron's Summa Health
April 30, 2025
Rose Penix, Quality, Culture and Inclusion Coordinator at Summa Health and College of Public Health Alumna, discusses her work and student learning opportunities at Summa Health.
Careers in Public Health and Health Sciences
How do I determine which public health program is best for me?
Our faculty and staff are committed to preparing 51ºÚÁÏÍø Public Health and Health Sciences students to meet the requirements for these and other public health careers. Our curriculum combines academic and theoretical training with practical, hands-on experiences in real worksite settings.
Schedule an advising appointment
To set up an appointment with our Academic Advising staff, call 330-672-6500 or e-mail us at publichealth@kent.edu
¹World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2006: working together for health. World Health Organization; Geneva: 2006 (accessed November 17, 2009).
²Association of Schools of Public Health. Confronting the Public Health Workforce Crisis (accessed November 17, 2009).
3Occupational Outlook Handbook: Healthcare Occupations, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
4The National Academy for State Health Policy.