The University of Iowa College of Public Health

05/20/2026

The tassels have turned, the smiles are shining, and the celebration is in full swing! 🎉

Spring commencement at the University of Iowa College of Public Health = pure joy, big energy, and unforgettable moments. From proud grads to cheering families, this is what hard work looks like when it pays off. 💛🖤

Next stop: changing the world. 🌎✨

05/17/2026

Caps off, hearts full 🎓💛

From proud walks across the stage to big hugs and bigger dreams—last night we celebrated the next generation of public health changemakers. Here’s to the late nights, loud cheers, and all the good you’re about to do in the world. Go Hawks! 🖤💛

05/12/2026

New episode 🎙️

This week on Plugged In to Public Health, Lauren talks with Dr. Erin Wissler Gerdes about the hidden mental load of early parenthood—anxiety, burnout, loneliness, and “parental rage.”

A timely conversation on why supporting families takes more than individuals—it takes systems. 💙

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fQZAnai77E&list=PLAhFElfv5vByAtLsY_VOxfvSk3wflcAVB&index=2&t=2s

This week on Plugged In to Public Health, Lauren sits down with Dr. Erin Wissler Gerdes, recent PhD graduate from the University of Iowa College of Public He...

05/06/2026

🎓 Graduation is right around the corner… and big career questions usually come with it.

In this video, University of Iowa Department of Biostatistics alum Logan Harris and his mentor David Zahrieh talk about how the UI College of Public Health’s mentorship program helped turn uncertainty into clarity—and how a few meaningful conversations can shape what comes next.

Whether you’re wrapping up your degree or thinking about what’s after the tassel turn, this is a reminder that you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. 👏

▶️ Watch the full story and see how mentorship makes a difference—for students and alumni.

04/29/2026

📊🌽Meet Caroline Powell, a UI College of Public Health master’s student who followed her passion for public health from New York City to Iowa’s agricultural communities.

As cancer rates continue to rise in Iowa, Caroline’s research explores how agricultural communities perceive cancer risk and how those beliefs shape prevention behaviors. Her work highlights a simple but powerful truth: strong data matters but so does how people interpret it.

As she wraps up her time at Iowa and prepares for doctoral studies at VCU, Caroline’s research is helping pave the way for clearer, more community-centered cancer communication.

👉 Read her full story here:
https://grad.uiowa.edu/news/2026/04/cancer-rates-rise-powell-charts-what-it-means-us

04/28/2026

Social media is a constant in teens’ lives—but its impact on mental health is more complicated than “too much screen time.”

In a new Q&A, Jonathan Platt from the University of Iowa College of Public Health walks us through what research actually shows: why social comparison and late‑night scrolling matter, how platform design and algorithms shape risk, and what families, schools, and policymakers can do to support healthier online experiences for young people.

It’s a clear, evidence‑based look at an issue many of us are thinking about.

Yes, we know….we’re sharing this on social media….about the dangers of social media. 🌀 But if you’re going to scroll, this is a pretty good place to pause and read. 😉

👉 Read the full Q&A:
https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/what-the-research-tells-us-about-social-media-and-teen-mental-health-a-qa-with-jonathan-platt/

04/24/2026

📍 From Iowa to Cape Town 🌍

Textbooks are great—but real-world public health hits different.

Third‑year public health student Aden Baldridge took his learning global through an experiential learning opportunity in South Africa. From community needs assessments to creating health education materials used by providers and policymakers, this experience went far beyond observation—it helped shape his entire career path.

Hands‑on learning doesn’t just teach you skills.

It challenges you, inspires you, and shows you what’s possible. 🔥

🎥 Watch how experiential learning can change everything.

04/15/2026

From the classroom to the community—this is public health in action. 💥

UI College of Public Health student Gabrielle Schwartz gained real-world experience by partnering with a nonprofit to strengthen their digital communication efforts and connect people with the resources they need.

🗣️ “As digital communication becomes more prevalent, especially in public health, this is a really valuable toolkit of skills to bring with me,” Gabrielle says.

Hands-on opportunities like this don’t just build resumes - they build impact.

04/08/2026

💙 Why public health?

For these University of Iowa College of Public Health students, it’s where science, curiosity, policy, and community impact come together. From biology and statistics to evidence‑based solutions and collaboration, public health shows up everywhere—and that’s exactly why they chose it.

This National Public Health Week 2026, we’re celebrating the students and future leaders who are passionate about creating healthier communities, near and far. 🌍✨

🎥 Watch, learn, and get inspired.
📣 Because public health is all of us.