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UNH College of Health and Human Services

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UNH College of Health and Human Services

CHHS inspires students to transform and improve health and human services in our state and our world.

The College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire is comprised of a broad array of health and social service oriented departments, centers and institutes. We inspire students to become strong, compassionate leaders to help transform and improve the health and human services environment across the state, the region and the world.

09/02/2026

Rural Health Transformation funding recently connected 147 students from across New Hampshire with hands-on healthcare experiences!

Thanks to funding from the Governor’s Office of New Opportunities and Rural Transformational Health (GO-NORTH), students participated, at no cost, in summer healthcare career exploration programs hosted by organizations across the state. GO-NORTH was established by executive order under Governor Kelly Ayotte and is funded through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.

We look forward to sharing more about this impactful work. In the meantime, learn more: https://www.unh.edu/news/go-north-programs-give-youth-summer-healthcare-career-exploration

08/11/2026

Ethan O'Leary '23, '26G recently earned his master's degree in recreation administration after completing his bachelor's in recreation management & policy (outdoor leadership & management) with a dual major in sustainability.

O'Leary started at UNH undeclared before discovering the Recreation Management & Policy program through RMP/OUT 515: History of Outdoor Pursuits in North America, taught by Nate Fitch.

He's now putting that education to work as a mountain adventure guide at Bretton Woods at Omni Mount Washington, where he:

* Leads canopy tours, rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking experiences
* Helps guests better understand the White Mountain National Forest and the landscapes they're exploring
* Guides first-time adventurers through challenges that build confidence and outdoor skills

O'Leary leads groups of up to nine guests through canopy tours featuring nine ziplines, two sky bridges and three rappels, teaching them how to brake, rappel safely and navigate the course while helping them push beyond their comfort zones.

"I've had to learn to work with and talk guests through the experience while ensuring I maintain a friendly, positive demeanor," he says. "Seeing the shift in guests' faces as they realize, 'Wait, I actually can do this,' has been one of the most rewarding things to come from this job."

Some guests have even told him the experience will become a lifelong memory.
O'Leary credits UNH's field courses — including rock climbing, whitewater canoeing, backcountry expeditions and risk management — as well as his work with Campus Recreation and RMP's climbing wall and outdoor adventure programs for preparing him to guide safely and confidently under pressure.

Looking ahead, O'Leary hopes to build his own guiding business while pursuing his long-term goal of becoming a park or forest ranger with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service or another federal land management agency.

"This current position has introduced me to a new perspective on federal land management," he says. "I now understand what it's like to work in a role like this."

07/16/2026

Meet Kristina Robb ‘24, ‘26G. At UNH, she turned her passion for running into a career.

This spring, Robb crossed multiple finish lines at once.
Just weeks before earning her master’s degree in Recreation Administration, she ran the Boston Marathon in a personal-best time of 2:57:47—breaking the three-hour mark for the first time. At the same time, she continued growing her run coaching business while completing an academic journey that began with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management and Policy. That coaching business actually started as a class project.

An entrepreneurship assignment challenged Robb to develop a business idea, and with encouragement from faculty mentor Cindy Hartman, she began shaping her coursework around running, coaching, event management, and kinesiology—turning her passion into a clear career path.

“When I shared the idea with Cindy Hartman, she basically said, ‘Why not just make it a real business?’ That conversation changed everything,” Robb says. “From there, I was able to take what I was learning in class and apply it directly to building my coaching business. Every course seemed to add another piece.”

Along the way, Robb also volunteered with Girls on the Run, helping young girls build confidence through running — an experience that reinforced her belief that the sport should be accessible to everyone.

Now, she’s focused on growing her coaching business and hopes to one day build community through running with organizations like the Boston Athletic Association.

05/16/2026

Today is the day!

Today we celebrate you, Class of 2026. We celebrate your hard work. Your long nights and early mornings. The lessons, the friendships, and the deep breaths you take at the culmination of it all. Our hearts are so filled with gratitude to see how far you’ve come.

YOU DID IT.

We hope you’ll look back warmly on the years you spent at CHHS. You’ll always have a home here, and it is an honor to witness you take this step into the next chapter of your lives.

We rise by lifting others.

04/13/2026

For more than two decades, Sharyn Zunz taught and mentored UNH students as a professor in the social work program.

Now, in her retirement, Zunz continues to mentor in a new way — as a resident at RiverWoods Durham retirement community.

Zunz recently welcomed nursing students into her home as part of the Function and Wellbeing of Older Adults course, where groups of students work with a RiverWoods resident to learn about their daily lives, health needs, and experiences with aging. For Zunz, it was an opportunity to support students' education while showing them what healthy, active aging looks like.

“I think sometimes students come in with certain expectations about older people, and they find out some of those preconceived notions aren’t always true,” Zunz says.

Read more about the partnership between UNH and RiverWoods on UNH Today!

https://www.unh.edu/news/2026/04/unh-riverwoods-partnership-expands-experiential-learning-opportunities

04/10/2026

Meet Kyle Clements ’28, CHHS sophomore from Quincy, Massachusetts, who’s making the most of his time at UNH.

As a Health Management and Policy student, Kyle is involved across campus as an orientation leader, CHHS Dean’s Ambassador, ACE peer mentor, and Student Organization of Healthcare Leadership representative.

And he’s not slowing down anytime soon — next year, he’ll step into a new role as a resident assistant (RA). Here’s a look at a recent day in his life!

04/07/2026

Today is the day! The (603) Challenge is on today through April 10, and your gift of any amount can help area challenges reach their donor goal and unlock additional funds.

Supporting the College of Health and Human Services means you play a direct role in helping students reach their dreams, overcome obstacles, and make the connections that will last a lifetime. Your gift matters.

Give now: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofNewHampshire/the-603-challenge-2026/pages/college-of-health-and-human-services/?a=12274431

03/18/2026

At CHHS, we love a good collab.

Students from the communication sciences and disorders (CSD) and nursing programs came together recently to collaborate and learn from one another during a special session covering how aspiration pneumonia is caused, common risk factors, and practical strategies nurses can use to help reduce its occurrence.

Approximately 100 nursing and 22 CSD students participated in the collaboration. The nursing students asked thoughtful questions, completed a teach-back assessment, and asked clarifying questions to strengthen their understanding and knowledge.

“It was inspiring to see future nurses and speech-language pathologists learning side by side, strengthening teamwork skills that will make a real difference in patient care,” says Keri Miloro, Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders and clinical assistant professor in the CSD department, who organized the collaboration.

So how will these students use what they’ve learned? Both the nursing and CSD students can apply their knowledge in critical ways.

Nurses play a vital role in identifying swallowing difficulties, supporting patients with dysphagia, and have a direct influence on decreasing aspiration pneumonia. Speech-language pathologists are integral to teaching the healthcare team as they have specialized training in swallowing and swallowing disorders. Because swallowing problems can increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia, understanding early signs, prevention techniques, and interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for improving patient outcomes.

01/25/2026

For Quinn Markham ’25, a campus job helped shape his academic path — and potentially his career.

What began as a lifeguarding position at the Swasey Indoor Pool quickly became something more. Through the day-to-day work, Quinn gained a deeper appreciation for the people, planning, and coordination that keep Campus Recreation running.

As his confidence grew, he stepped into a program assistant role, sparking an interest in how recreation programs are managed, staffed, and sustained — and ultimately leading him to the Recreation Management & Policy program.

What made the experience especially meaningful was how closely his coursework aligned with his work. Concepts discussed in class often mirrored real situations he was navigating on the job.

Through internships and summer roles with Campus Recreation, Quinn continued building hands-on experience across aquatics, special events, and customer experience — preparing him to step confidently into his current role as aquatics coordinator.

Hear Quinn’s story in his own words:

01/22/2026

Meet Ruth Swenson, who recently completed her master's through UNH's family nurse practitioner program and now works as a family nurse practitioner at Ossipee Family Medicine and Alton Family Medicine.
Swenson's interest in healthcare began in ninth grade on a mission trip, where she met a young girl named Ruth who couldn't access care. That moment sparked a lifelong calling toward healthcare that took multiple twists and turns.
After earning pre-med and biology and art degrees and teaching biology and art for five years, Swenson found her way back to nursing while raising her four children in New Hampshire. After earning her associate's degree, she spent over a decade working on the medical-surgical floor at Huggins Hospital, gaining experience in a wide range of health challenges.
One day, while precepting a new nurse, Swenson found herself asking a question she often asked others: When would she go back to school and become a nurse practitioner?
A well-timed email about UNH's Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) program — opened the next chapter. With encouragement from mentors and a supportive family, Swenson advanced her education through UNH, completing clinical rotations close to home within the Huggins network.
"The ANEW grant was tremendous in allowing me to still be a wife and a mom, despite having a full-time schedule... without having to work crazy hours or assume a ton of debt," Swenson says.
As a resident of Ossipee, Swenson is grateful she can continue serving her community. "It's a true privilege, and I know it's filling a huge need for primary care. I want patients to be informed about their health and understand how preventative health makes a significant difference."
Swenson says ANEW plays an invaluable role in building the primary care workforce: "There's a lot of really great RNs interested in being nurse practitioners, but finances are a major hurdle. This program gives you the passport to get closer to your dreams — like it was for me."

Address

4 Library Way, Hewitt Hall
Durham, NH
03824

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm

Website

http://www.chhs.unh.edu/, http://unh.edu/give/CHHS

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