杏吧性世界

The start of a new school year always brings energy to campus, but Fall 2025 feels especially exciting at the (COPH). With more than 700 new students joining the COPH family, fresh academic programs launching and faculty stepping into new leadership roles, the college is embracing change and momentum on every front.

This semester isn鈥檛 just about welcoming the Class of 2025, it鈥檚 about charting the future of public health. From trailblazing programs in lifestyle medicine and health care simulation science, to new faculty leading innovative research in global health, the COPH is expanding opportunities for students while shaping the next generation of leaders.

It鈥檚 a season of growth, discovery and possibility, and the best part is鈥攊t鈥檚 just getting started!

Incoming class of 2025

This fall, the COPH is proud to welcome the newest members of our community, the incoming class of 2025. These students represent a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and ambitions, all united by their passion for advancing public health.

The incoming class includes 733 students across undergraduate, master鈥檚 and doctoral . Of those, 530 are pursuing bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 173 are enrolled in master鈥檚 programs and 30 are beginning their doctoral studies.

Academically, the Class of 2025 brings strong credentials, with an average GPA of 3.74 for all undergrad students and 3.43 for all graduate students. The group is geographically widespread, with 24% from out-of-state, as well as 3% international students representing 21 countries.

Emmanuel McNeely, MD, MHA, MS

Among this year鈥檚 incoming students is Dr. Emmanuel McNeely who joins the Class of 2025 with advanced degrees in medicine and health administration, plus extensive research experience and publications.

McNeely is currently in the public health and preventive medicine residency program for the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County and said he chose to attend the COPH because it is recognized for excellence in research, innovation and the development of well-rounded public health professionals.

McNeeley plans to pursue a .

鈥淭he integrative curriculum stood out to me, along with being the highest ranked public health program in Florida,鈥� he said.

McNeeley said he has several interests in public health including teen obesity and wellness, opioid use disorder and HIV prevention and treatment.

鈥淚 will devote my career to serving populations in need, as well as the community-at-large, by providing core public health services and medical care,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 am very honored and proud to join the COPH family,鈥� McNeeley added. 鈥淚t is my goal to use my MPH education to positively impact the health and wellbeing of my future patients and their communities.鈥�

Amie and Ashlee Wagner, BSHS

This year鈥檚 class also features a unique duo: twins sisters Amie and Ashlee Wagner, from Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. They graduated from the COPH in the spring with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in . Now, they are continuing their journeys together as incoming students in the (MHA) program.

Amie Wagner was drawn to the MHA program after connecting with alumni through the .

鈥淎fter completing four incredible years at the COPH for my bachelor鈥檚 degree, it was an easy decision to continue my education here because it offers a strong MHA program, and the more I learned about its structure and opportunities, the more confident I became that it was the right fit for me,鈥� she said.

Although her journey to this point hasn鈥檛 been easy, she says she is ready for what鈥檚 next and hopes to apply her skills to strengthen health care systems back home in the Cayman Islands.

鈥淭hrough the challenges of navigating MHA applications, student visa and securing scholarships, I am grateful to have made it here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 believe the next two years will be worth every struggle, and I鈥檓 excited to see where this journey leads me.鈥�

Ashlee Wagner was inspired to focus on public health after witnessing the impact of rising health care costs in her community.

鈥淚 chose the COPH because of its dedicated faculty and the engaging, yet challenging courses that push me to grow as both a student and a future leader,鈥� she said.

鈥淎dditionally, the COPH has felt like a second home ever since I first stepped onto campus my freshman year in Fall 2021,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s an international student, feeling comfortable, safe and supported on campus is crucial when you鈥檙e far from home and family.鈥�

Ashlee said she hopes to use her training to improve health care access and affordability in the Cayman Islands.

Together, the incoming Class of 2025 embodies the future of public health. We are excited to see the impact they will make during their time at the COPH and beyond.

COPH launches new degree programs, lifestyle medicine training for Fall 2025

The COPH is expanding its academic offerings in Fall 2025 with two new undergraduate degrees, a first-of-its-kind concentration in health care simulation science and professional training in .

The new programs reflect the college鈥檚 effort to prepare students for a changing health care landscape while addressing workforce shortages in nutrition, rehabilitation and preventive medicine.

Beginning this fall, students will be able to enroll in bachelor鈥檚 degree programs in , and health sciences with a .

• The nutrition science degree is designed for students pursuing careers as registered dietitian nutritionists or planning to enter medical or allied health graduate programs. 
• The rehabilitation science degree offers a pathway to physical therapy, occupational therapy and athletic training. 
• The simulation concentration, developed with , is billed as the world鈥檚 first undergraduate program in health care simulation operations. Graduates will be prepared for careers in hospitals, federal agencies, the military and private industry.

鈥淭hese programs were designed with both workforce readiness and graduate study in mind,鈥� said , assistant dean for undergraduate studies at the COPH. 鈥淭hey allow students to tailor their education toward areas of high demand in health care and public health.鈥�

In addition to the new undergraduate degrees, the college鈥檚 (CALM)  launches a graduate certificate and a professional certificate in applied lifestyle medicine coaching in Fall 2025. An undergraduate minor is scheduled to follow in Fall 2026.

Lifestyle medicine emphasizes the use of everyday behaviors, such as diet, exercise, sleep, stress management and social connection, to prevent and even reverse chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and obesity. The programs will train students and professionals to use evidence-based coaching strategies to help individuals adopt healthier habits, with an emphasis on sustainable, long-term change.

The certificates, accredited by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching, prepare students to sit for the national board-certifying exam to become health and wellness coaches. Coursework is designed to be flexible and accessible, with online modules complemented by weekly interactive sessions focused on practical coaching skills.

, director of CALM, said the lifestyle medicine offerings are a direct response to the growing recognition that preventing chronic disease is just as important as treating it. By training students in both the science of lifestyle medicine and the skills of effective coaching, USF aims to strengthen the pipeline of professionals who can work in clinical settings, community health programs and corporate wellness initiatives.

COPH welcomes new faculty, celebrates promotions

The COPH is celebrating faculty members who have taken on new leadership roles and appointments this semester. The group includes new postdoctoral scholars, a new professor and promotions into key leadership positions.

Dr. Juan David Ram铆rez Gonz谩lez joins the faculty as professor

Dr. Juan David Ram铆rez Gonz谩lez  joined the as a professor. Originally from Colombia, he brings more than 15 years of experience in molecular microbiology, tropical medicine and infectious disease genomics.

Before coming to USF, he was an associate professor and assistant director of molecular microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. He also serves as a professor at Universidad del Rosario in Bogot谩, Colombia.

Ram铆rez鈥檚 research integrates next-generation sequencing, vector genomics and transmission ecology to investigate parasite evolution, host-pathogen interactions and disease dynamics, with a particular focus on Chagas disease and leishmaniasis.

At COPH, he plans to lead genomic surveillance and ecological studies of parasitic diseases in both the United States and Latin America, while also training the next generation of scientists.

鈥淔lorida鈥檚 climate and biodiversity create conditions that can favor the introduction or re-emergence of diseases such as Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, and I see an important opportunity to contribute my expertise to strengthening the state鈥檚 preparedness, surveillance and prevention strategies,鈥� Ram铆rez said.

Dr. Michaela McGuire named postdoctoral scholar

Dr. Michaela McGuire has been appointed as a postdoctoral scholar at COPH. She recently earned her at USF.

Her research interests include malaria, infectious disease epidemiology and the broader health impacts of disease prevention programs. In her new role, she will support data analysis, presentation and dissemination of findings for projects centered on malaria epidemiology.

A Florida native, McGuire previously worked as an instructor and teaching assistant for multiple public health courses and held positions with both county and state health departments as an epidemiologist and data scientist. She earned her from USF and her BA in English from the University of Florida.

Dr. Nate Gibson joins Martin Lab as postdoctoral scholar

Dr. Nate Gibson has joined COPH as a postdoctoral scholar in   lab, where he will contribute to ongoing research in Lyme disease ecology and immunology.

Gibson recently completed his PhD in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where his dissertation examined the social-ecological dynamics of zoonotic and vector-borne disease across urban landscapes. His work brought together the fields of urban ecology and disease ecology.

He earned his undergraduate degree at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Dr. Janice Zgibor named assistant vice president of academic affairs for USF Health

has been appointed assistant vice president of academic affairs for . In her new role, shesupports academic programming across the College of Public Health, , and the .

鈥淭his includes looking at programs across health for collaborative and synergistic efforts for curriculum quality and delivery,鈥� Zgibor said.

She said she is excited to step into this position because of the caliber of people across USF Health.

鈥淎ll of the colleges do outstanding work and have top-notch faculty, staff and students,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e can all learn from each other to make USF Health even more outstanding than it already is.鈥�

Zgibor added that she sees this role as an opportunity to harness the energy and creativity of colleagues across disciplines.

鈥淭he collective energy of those participating in the academic mission of the colleges in USF Health is contagious,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n my mind, there is no limit to the achievements of USF Health when we work as a unit. I am honored to be a part of that collective energy and bring the best academic experiences to our students now and into the future.鈥�

Dr. Alison Oberne promoted to associate dean for undergraduate studies

Dr. Alison Oberne has been promoted from assistant to associate dean for . A longtime leader in undergraduate education, Oberne has been recognized for her excellence in teaching, research and service.

She teaches courses including Research and Evaluation in Public Health, Critical Issues in Public Health,and Overview of Programs and Policies in Public Health. Her 鈥淧ublic Health Live on Tour鈥� seminar connects students directly with community health agencies to gain real-world experience.

Oberne鈥檚 research focuses on health literacy, dietary practices and food insecurity among college students, with a broader goal of addressing the factors that influence health behaviors. She also serves as a faculty senator and a member of the COPH Education Committee, in addition to her community involvement with Girls on the Run and Team Tampa Bay Missions.

鈥淒r. Oberne has long been a pillar of excellence in teaching, research and service,鈥� said . 鈥淗er promotion is a testament to her unwavering dedication to student success and public health advancement.鈥�