Join us February 9th from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. for a speed networking event for current Wayne State Public Health students. This event will feature MPH Alumni, and offer students the chance to network and explore careers available to them in the field of Public Health. 

Alumni in attendance:

1. Michelle Kawabe -  Michele Kawabe is a Public Health Consultant at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). She holds Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Master of Public Health degrees, both from Wayne State University. She is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. As an experienced clinician and public health professional, she bridges the intersection of these sectors as administrator of the MDHHS Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment Program, which aims to improve the oral health of children by providing no-cost dental screenings to children entering kindergarten, increasing linkages and access to dental care, and increasing awareness of the importance of oral health among children and families. 
2. Taylor Alpert - Taylor Alpert joined the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) in 2025 and currently serves as government relations manager. In this role, she advocates on behalf of hospital interests in the state legislature and collaborates on the work of the MHA Health PAC.She is currently a Limited License Master's Social Worker (LLMSW) and holds her master's in public health (MPH) from Wayne State University and received her bachelor of arts degree with honors in biology from Albion College.
3. Mackenzie Connell - Mackenzie is a public and environmental health scientist with an MPH (WSU) and a PhD (University of Florida). I am primarily interested in research and teaching and just recently started a position at Wayne State as a One Health Fellow.
4. Gray Ficker - Gray Ficker (MPH Alum, Wayne SOM, 2016) after writing about a multi-level systems approach to filling policy and practice gaps, being a founding member of the PHSO, completing an internship with Global Health and practicum with Dr. Denise White-Perkins at Henry Ford, and a CDC Well Community Fellowship in SW Detroit. Since then he’s gained more than 10 years industry experience in healthcare administration, focusing on analytics and quality improvement, and using a multi-pronged, systems-level approach to understanding everyday interactions’ impact on our healthcare system’s past and finding ways to maintain obstinate optimism for moving forward. He will be applying for PhD and DrPH programs in Epidemiology in the Fall. 
5. Eli Kim, MPH - Eli got her Master of Public Health degree from Wayne State University in 2019 and has over a decade of research experience spanning medical, social work, activism, and program-based research. She has experience with program development, implementation, and evaluation. Eli is currently focused on qualitative and mixed methods research, as well as information dissemination. She is passionate about ensuring research is accessible and digestible to the public and dedicated to working with communities on what matters to them. When she is not working, she is a dedicated mother, small business owner, and a visual artist.
6. Miguel Barajas - Miguel Barajas, MPH, CHES, PMP Currently the Health Planning and Promotion Manager for Wayne County Health, Human, & Veterans Services.
7. Shanee' Kilpatrick, MPH, MCHES - Shanee' Kilpatrick is a dedicated public health professional with over a decade of experience in sexual health education, systems change, and community engagement. As the Unit Manager of the Blood Disorders Unit, she oversees all statewide sickle cell programming and initiatives, namely the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Strategic Plan. She is a current public health doctoral candidate at Walden university and holds an MPH from Wayne State University.
8. Makenna Champney, MPH, CHES - Makenna Champney currently works for the State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in the Department of Immunizations. Within MDHHS, I work as an Immunization Field Representative for Southeast Michigan. I have experience in both the local and state health department. I am also a certified health education specialist (CHES) and am a licensed birth doula. 
9. Benita Rangira - Benita earned her Master of Public Health from Wayne State University in 2022 and currently works as a Survey Specialist Associate with the Health and Retirement Study at the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center. She is also an incoming Weekend MBA candidate at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Class of 2028.