Honors and Awards

Commencement Tribute Video
Nithyashree Kalyanaraman, MPH in Public Health Policy and Management

An entrepreneurial mindset has informed Nithyashree Kalyanaraman’s education since she was an undergraduate; for instance, in the depths of Covid-19 lockdown she blended strategy and execution to provide free meals to quarantined people, joining with classmates so they made a “magnified impact.” After earning her business degree from Arizona State, Nithya enrolled at NYU, excelled in her studies and became Graduate President of the GPH Student Government Council. She graduates today with her MPH in Public Health Management, and will represent the School in NYU’s 2026 all-University Commencement video.

Outside of classes, Nithya gathered and analyzed real-world evidence on the environment and climate in a research lab under the guidance of global health and engineering faculty. She is passionate about using data-driven insights to advance equity, optimize healthcare systems, and improve population health outcomes. After graduation, Nithya plans to couple her economics and public health foundation with her experience in leading initiatives and working effectively with diverse stakeholders to advance health care strategy and innovation.

Class Representative 
Christina Joseph, MPH in Public Health Policy and Management

After earning a BS in life science from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, Christina Joseph came to NYU for her MPH in Public Health Policy, and this week she’ll represent GPH’s Class of 2026 at the All-University Commencement exercises, symbolically receiving a diploma on behalf of all GPH graduates. For the last year Christina has interned at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, where she led a project to optimize workflows, enhancing communication and supporting efforts toward patient-centered care. Her experience includes fieldwork for the NYC Sweet Truth Act alongside NYU Langone and Stanford University, as well as student mental health research with GPH’s Public Health Policy Research Lab.

Outside the clinic and classroom, Christina served as Communications Head for NYU's Catholic Graduate Student Club, planning community events throughout NYC for new students, and she volunteers to support individuals experiencing homelessness at St. Joe's Street Outreach. Focused on system-level change, patient experience, and designing environments that are both efficient and compassionate, Christina aims to shape a healthcare system that prioritizes dignity, access and kindness.

Banner Bearer 
Alexandra Krstić, MA in Bioethics

Alex Krstić received her bachelor's degree in biology from Williams College, where a course in the ethics of human subject research sparked her interest in bioethics. Having earned her Master of Arts in Bioethics, she will proudly bear the GPH banner at this year’s all-University Commencement exercises. Alex works as the global research ethics lead at Innovations for Poverty Action, an international development research and policy nonprofit, where she oversees efforts to protect the rights and welfare of people participating in IPA's research.

While pursuing her degree Alex explored interests spanning reproductive ethics, neuroethics, disability ethics, and the ethics of artificial intelligence, among others. She also worked as a teaching assistant in medical ethics, and as a research assistant in climate and health. Outside of work and academia, she is a contemporary dancer and choreographer. 

Student Engagement Award 
Kratika Tyagi, MPH in Public Health Policy and Management

After earning a Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery in her native India, Dr. Kratika Tyagi worked in claims processing and as a general dentist. But in the quiet moments between patients, recognizing how the systems around her shaped the care that people received, Kratika slowly realized her path was leading somewhere unexpected. Pursuing a dream to move to the Big Apple as an international student, she came to NYU GPH for her Master's in Public Health Management.

Kratika’s studies shaped her in unexpected ways, deepening not just her knowledge but her confidence and sense of purpose. It was her immersion in campus life, serving on the Student Governing Council, as a course assistant, in research labs and as an onboarding ambassador, that led to her being chosen for today’s Student Engagement Award. Kratika intends to spend her career advocating for health equity and access一but when she steps away from policy, you'll find her on a dance floor, planning her next adventure, or tracking down the perfect dessert!

Public Health Practice + Leadership Award 
Kamila Kasalla, MPH in Public Health Nutrition

A native New Yorker and the recipient today of GPH’s Public Health Practice and Leadership Award, Kamila Kasalla came to NYU after earning her bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, where she studied integrative neuroscience. Her experience caring for family members with chronic conditions gave her an understanding of the importance of nutrition education; in turn, that inspired her commitment to improving health outcomes and expanding access to nutrition education on diet-related diseases in chronically ill communities.

Along with her MPH in Public Health Nutrition, Kamila laid the foundation for her career through involvement with clinical nutrition volunteer programs in the city, research on food security and chronic disease prevalence in the country, and leadership roles with the Nutrition Graduate Society. After completing her dietetic internship at NewYork-Presbyterian, Kamila plans to continue supporting individuals and communities living with chronic conditions through equitable, evidence-based nutrition education and care.

Public Health Research Award 
Izza Malik, MPH in Public Health Policy and Management

Research has been a common thread throughout the education of native New Yorker Izza Malik. She continues to assist with data collection and analysis for labs at Stony Brook University, from which she received her Bachelor’s in Sociology, with minors in Chemistry and Political Science, before coming to NYU. She is president of GPH’s student-run Reproductive Rights Club, which engages in science-based advocacy and education. And Izza graduates today with her MPH in Public Health Policy, and as recipient of the GPH Public Health Research Award.

Izza directs the Technical Assistance Program at the NY Birth Control Access Project, a non-profit for which she executes an evidence-based, replicable model for the implementation of pharmacist-prescribed birth control in New York State. She has helped train over 600 pharmacists in the last eight months, and played an active role in the passage of the legislation in 2023. Drawing on her background in clinical health and research, Izza relies on an intersectional public health approach that bridges policy, communications and scientific evidence, and she plans to make the most of the skills she’s gained at GPH to scale the program, continually pushing for culturally competent and equitable care.

GPH Student Speaker 
Alan Prohorov, MA in Bioethics

Alan Prohorov’s academic mission began with an undergraduate degree in English and Philosophy from Lehigh University. Fueled by the conviction that “philosophy teaches one to be curious forever,” he pursued his Master’s in Bioethics at NYU by regularly commuting to New York City from the suburbs of Philadelphia. Chosen to be a GPH Student Speaker as he graduates today, Alan celebrates his milestone of resilience and grit, having earned his degree and skillfully balanced the rigors of academia with commitment and purpose.

For the past seven years, Alan has owned and operated Pro Tutoring, a business he founded to make education enjoyable, and to help students of every learning style achieve their goals. A practicing Buddhist who travels to Nepal each year to live with monks and learn more about the world, Alan’s experiences have shaped his perspective on ethics and human connection, and they guide his future aspirations. As he graduates from GPH, Alan’s goals are to remain committed to lifelong learning, while advancing ethical practices across diverse communities and disciplines.

GPH Student Speaker 
Alice Peiran Wang, MS in Biostatistics

After Alice Wang completed her bachelor’s degree in data science and mathematics at NYU, she considered myriad possibilities for learning how to apply quantitative methods to real-world health and social challenges. For the opportunity to work alongside renowned faculty at the intersection of data, medicine and policy, Alice chose the MS in Biostatistics at GPH, and she receives her degree today. Her curriculum focused on statistical modeling and machine learning applications, and included research projects in predictive modeling and health data analysis.

In addition to her internships and collaborations involving medical data and causal inference, Alice focused on translating data into meaningful insights, and she served as an assistant for several Department of Biostatistics courses. For her skills in mentorship and communication, and in making quantitative concepts more accessible to students from diverse backgrounds, Alice was chosen to be a GPH Student Speaker. Outside the classroom, she spent her time with the NYU Fine Arts Society, the NYU Ballet Company, and in piano rooms at Kimmel, which allowed her to stay connected to both science and art expression throughout graduate school.

GPH Student Speaker 
Eman Kamilia Maadir, MPH in Community Health Science and Practice

A first-generation college graduate from Mooresville, NC, Eman Maadir earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health and Exercise Science from Wake Forest University, where she developed a strong passion for public health and community service. As a volunteer and in leadership positions, she dedicated herself to supporting health centers and local hospitals.

As she pursued her MPH at NYU GPH, Eman chose to concentrate in Community Health Science and Practice; she graduates today and was selected to be a GPH Student Speaker. For her internship, Eman was a Program Coordinator and Evaluation Assistant at Active Plus, a nonprofit organization in New York City that supports initiatives aimed at improving access to health and fitness education for students. Looking ahead, Eman aspires to direct further initiatives that promote health equity and strengthen communities. She is deeply grateful for the opportunities she has gained through NYU GPH, and is excited to continue contributing to the future of public health.

GPH Student Speaker 
Cory Zheng, MPH in Public Health Policy and Management

Cory received his Bachelor's degree in Physiology from the University of Washington, where he developed a foundation in clinical science through his work as a medical laboratory technician and surgical assistant. Drawn to the systems behind the care, Cory came to NYU to pursue his MPH in Public Health Management at GPH, where he has served as a research assistant analyzing healthcare policy across the U.S.

Outside the classroom, Cory stays active through bouldering at Vital Brooklyn, a sport that has become a reliable source of both physical and mental well-being. A Seattle native, he looks forward to returning home to Cookie and Oreo, his corgi and husky, who have no interest in his bouldering prowess. Cory leaves GPH eager to apply his clinical background and policy expertise to improving healthcare operations and expanding access to care in communities that need it most.

GPH Student Speaker 
Akshita Varshney, MPH in Public Health Nutrition

With extensive experience as a dietitian in her native India, Akshita Varshney developed a strong interest in public health after observing firsthand, in hundreds of cases, the impact of nutrition, culture and access to care on health outcomes in different communities. Akshita graduates today from NYU with her MPH in Public Health Nutrition, and was chosen to be a GPH Student Speaker.

In the course of her studies Akshita conducted research in the field and became involved with community-based initiatives focused on nutrition education, food access and health equity. Her work has included projects on adolescent nutrition, sustainable agriculture and global health, and she contributed research related to nutrition and chronic disease prevention. She also served as a Unibuddy ambassador for GPH, supporting prospective students and representing the program at outreach events. Akshita plans to pursue a career in dietetics, combining clinical nutrition and public health to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in diverse communities in the U.S. and globally.

GPH Student Speaker 
Aanya Datta, MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences

It was her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Community & Public Health, that challenged Aanya Datta to think outside the box. A native of Kolkata, India, Aanya enrolled in NYU intending to blend her undergrad education with graduate study through a variety of lenses. With research interests that encompass the social determinants of health, life-course aging, and the role of city/state policy in population health, Aanya will receive today her MPH in Social & Behavioral Sciences, and was chosen to be a GPH Student Speaker.

In addition to her studies at GPH Aanya was a Graduate Admissions Advisor, an Onboarding Ambassador, and a course assistant for two courses. For her internship Aanya worked with the NYC Department for the Aging as a College-Aide in their Research and Development Unit. Her time there, combined with her education and experience at GPH, has shaped her research interests and career goals. Aanya thanks her parents and sister, without whom this journey would have been impossible, as well as her supervisors, mentors, and faculty at GPH and beyond! 

GPH Student Speaker 
Lisa Chen, MS in Epidemiology

Lisa Chen admits that her interest in epidemiology was first sparked by the sci-fi/thriller film Contagion, about global efforts to counter a deadly disease. After the Canadian native graduated with honors with a bachelor’s in public health from the University of Waterloo, she moved to New York to enroll in NYU and explore how data and population-level patterns can help us understand disease and health outcomes.

Lisa’s research focuses on using large-scale datasets and digital health tools to discern how gaps in data can change the way we interpret health differences across populations. Her poster at the NYC Epidemiology Forum showed that missing data can be more than a minor limitation. And as President of the GPH Epidemiology club, Lisa organizes events and brings students together around shared interests in public health and epidemiology. Recognized today as a GPH Student Speaker, Lisa graduates with her MS in Epidemiology. She is particularly interested in leveraging technology, including wearable devices and mHealth data from phones, to improve disease surveillance and population health outcomes.

GPH Student Speaker 
Cindy Zhang, MPH in Global Health

Cindy Zhang was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada but spent her early days in rural China, where people washed their mops, clothes and vegetables in the same pond; this sparked her interest in disease management. She obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto, concentrating on the clinical aspects of biology and disease, but a volunteer stint in rural Honduras changed her focus. After gaining hands-on patient experience in a cardiovascular clinic there, Cindy realized that public health prevention and policy innovations must be prioritized before downstream treatment could be effective.

So Cindy came to NYU GPH; she accepted an internship at NYU Langone on a project around women’s health; she worked in the AGPHI research lab as a consultant on strengthening supply chains in sub-Saharan Africa, and she continued to advocate for ethical volunteering and sustainable development. Named a GPH Student Speaker, Cindy graduates today with her MPH in Global Health, and plans to work as a care manager in the future. She is thankful for support from friends, mentors and colleagues, and especially from her family, who fought through revolutions and famines, but never failed to teach her that education is liberation. 

Faculty of the Year Award
Robyn Gershon, MHS, DrPH

Robyn Gershon, MHS, DrPH is an interdisciplinary educator in occupational and environmental health, a dedicated research scientist with a focus on public health disasters, the teacher of three highly rated online courses at GPH on disaster preparedness, and according to its Class of 2026, she comes highly recommended for recognition as Faculty of the Year. Dr. Gershon brings her lessons to life with field trips to the heartbeat of NYC Emergency Management; many of her students have completed internships and fellowships there, and advanced toward stellar careers in the field. Over her career Dr. Gershon’s research has informed both policy and practice; her landmark “World Trade Center Evacuation Study” led to updates in fire safety codes. Her work has focused on barriers and facilitators to disaster preparedness, especially with respect to vulnerable populations and essential workers—including the public health workforce.

A Clinical Professor in GPH’s Department of Epidemiology, Dr. Gershon earned her doctorate in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she was on the faculty for several years. She has held prior appointments at UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley, and at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, where she was the dean for research. An author of the fifth edition of the leading textbook on public health preparedness, Dr. Gershon has published more than 125 peer-reviewed articles and three dozen book chapters on her research, and received funding from numerous agencies including the NIH, NSF and the CDC, among others.

Early Career Teaching Excellence Award
Kate Guastaferro, PhD

As an Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at GPH and an intervention scientist by training, Kate Guastaferro, PhD is devoted to creating effective and affordable interventions with high public health impact. She is co-director of a center to promote those interventions, she established a lab at GPH to conduct research for them, and she directs the DrPH program at GPH. For these and other commitments to scholarship, mentoring students and advancements in public health, Dr. Guastaferro will receive the Early Career Teaching Excellence Award.

Currently focused at GPH on the prevention of child maltreatment, Dr. Guastaferro co-led a statewide trial of evidence-base child sexual abuse prevention programs, one of which she developed, piloted and evaluated. Prior to joining NYU, she was an assistant research professor in human development and family studies at the Pennsylvania State University, having completed postdoctoral training there. Dr. Guastaferro received her PhD and MPH from the Georgia State University School of Public Health, and her BA in anthropology from Boston University.

GPH Teaching Excellence Award
Rumi Chunara, PhD

Rumi Chunara, PhD holds joint appointments as Associate Professor at NYU: in Computer Science at Tandon School of Engineering, and in Biostatistics at GPH. The overarching goal of her research is to acquire, integrate and use data to improve population-level public health. She focuses on data mining and machine learning methods, as well as on fairness and ethics in the design and use of data and algorithms embedded in social systems. Her research lab analyzes population health using computational and statistical methods across data mining, natural language processing, and spatio-temporal analyses. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow and Instructor at Harvard Medical School. She completed her BS with honors in Electrical Engineering at Caltech, her MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT and, in a joint program at Harvard and MIT, her PhD in Medical and Electrical Engineering.

Chief Marshal
Alex Dahlen, PhD

In addition to serving as clinical associate professor in GPH’s Department of Biostatistics, Alex Dahlen, PhD directs its thriving Collaborative Statistical Core, bringing robust statistical methods and thoughtful study design to public health research. He is devoted to mentoring junior scientists, providing hands-on coding lessons, overseeing analysis, offering study design and methodology tutorials, and lecturing about healthy research practices. Prior to his role at GPH training the next generation of data scientists and statisticians in team science and applied statistics, Dr. Dahlen was a senior statistician at Stanford University. He received his bachelor’s degree in theoretical and mathematical physics from Harvard, and a PhD in the physics of bubbles from Princeton.