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 e-mailed in the week beforehand.
The SPH Student Council will also hold a monthly Social Hour over Zoom on the last Friday of every month!
Make sure to follow our Instagram account for additional events at @downstate_sphsc.
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 2021!
President
Janille M. L. Williams
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Degree Program & Concentration: Doctor of Public Health, Epidemiology
Email Address: Janille.Williams@downstate.edu
Click here for Janille Williams' LinkedIn Profile
I was born and raised in St. George’s Grenada where I spent 6 years as a STEM teacher. Motivated by my mother’s death from breast cancer, I decided to pursue a career in medicine. As an undergraduate Biology student at St. George’s University, I conducted genetics research and realized I loved it. I decided to do an MD/MPH degree to gain more research experience. However, while taking MPH courses, I found my true passion - Epidemiology. I rather address health issues at the population level than treat patients individually. After my MPH, I completed an Epidemiology fellowship at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware. Currently, I manage the Health Science Academy at the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban at SUNY Downstate. My previous and current research focused on immigrants’ health, health disparities, epigenetics, cancer disparities, pediatric trauma, and health science education.
As the Vice President, I provide support to the President and other e-board members. My main goal is to be a voice for SPH student body. I am the student member representative on the SPH Educational Policy and Curriculum Subcommittee.
I am a liaison between the students and faculty. Thus, it’s my duty to create a safe space/avenue for faculty and students to exchange ideas and listen to concerns. Additionally, to facilitate collaborations with faculty and students, I assist with organizing the student council led student faculty mixer.
My aim is to increase the number of DRPH students on the student council. I plan to do this through personal outreach to my classmates encouraging them to participate in workshops, social mixers and other student led activities.
Please feel free to contact me at Janille.Williams@downstate.edu or jwilliams2@arthurasheinstitute.org.
Fun fact: I can play the steelpan instrument and I am currently writing a book of poetry.
Student Council Leadership, Academic Year 2022-2023
President: Janille M.L. Williams
Vice-President: Asad Mannan
Treasurer: Hector Gonzalez
Secretary: Brianna Caldwell Williams