Student Council

The School of Public Health (SPH) Student Council is a student-led organization comprised of members from all backgrounds and educational programs. The mission statement of the SPH Student Council is to:

advocate for SPH student interests amongst the SPH administration and faculty;
promote professional development events and create opportunities for networking; and
build an inclusive community in which all SPH students feel welcomed and heard.

The SPH Student Council has monthly meetings open to the student body, with the date and time emailed in the week beforehand. If there are any suggestions, questions, or if you are interested in joining, please email SPHStudentCouncil@downstate.edu!

We look forward to getting to know you all and wish you a healthy and successful academic year!

President

Breanna D. Watson, MSPH, CHES, CLC
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Degree Program & Concentration: Doctor of Public Health, Community Health Sciences
Email Address: Breanna.Watson@downstate.edu
Click here for Breanna Watson’s LinkedIn Profile

Breanna Watson was elected to be the Student Council President at the School of Public Health in June 2024. In her role, she and the E-Board represent the student body. As the head of the council, she is responsible for leading meetings, organizing events, and ensuring that student interests are at the forefront of school initiatives. As a strong advocate for collaboration, Ms. Watson works to build bridges between students, faculty, and administration. Her efforts aim to lead to inclusive decision-making processes and a greater sense of unity within the school. Academically, Ms. Watson is focused on maternal, perinatal, and child health. She is currently a doctoral student in the Community Health Sciences DrPH degree program. Her professional experiences in the public health field, including her current role as the Deputy Executive Director at the HEAT Program, and her master’s degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University have provided her with a strong foundation for understanding the complexities of public health challenges as well as advocating to meet the needs of a diverse student body.

Breanna’s Note to Students

Downstate’s students, my colleagues, are part of a wonderful community here! I hope to serve as an amplifier of the voices of students in the School of Public Health and communicate ideas from faculty and administration. My intent is to host an excellent mix of events and activities that provide students with a sense of belonging, trust, and ample representation on campus. Anyone should feel free to contact me via my or the student council’s email. The Student Council’s goal is that students don’t just attend (and excel in!) their courses, but that they feel heard and have fun while doing so.

Breanna’s Fun Fact: I enjoy baking and love trying out new dessert recipes (even if I have burned down a kitchen…or two).

Student Council Leadership

Breanna D. Watson
President

Laurie Williams
Vice President

Chizoba Ndulue
Treasurer

Zakiya Scott
Secretary