Our dear Ahoua Koné will be retiring from her role as faculty in the Department of Global Health and co-Chair of the SPH Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee at the end of this academic year (June 2025). Ahoua has served as a key part of our Black Advisory Collective and has made an indelible impact on countless students, faculty, staff and communities throughout her distinguished career, and we invite you to join us in celebrating her remarkable contributions.
We wish Khalfani Mwamba all the best as he prepares for his upcoming sabbatical, which will take place from September 15, 2025 – September 14, 2026. We look forward to the insights and experiences he’ll bring back to the ARCH Community.
Join us in celebrating Dr. Elle Lett, MD, PhD, MA, MBiostat, ARCH’s inaugural Scholar in Residence, on her graduation from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine! Dr. Lett has contributed to ARCH through her impactful scholarship on anti-racism and her mentorship of students across the School of Public Health. Her research has focused on developing a definition of anti-racism that resonates with different communities of color and other groups that face discrimination. She will conclude her residency on June 30th. Thank you, Dr. Lett!
Aisha Omar Ali will be graduating with a BA in Public Health-Global Health. Aisha has been a dedicated member of the ARCH Student Advisory Board since early 2025. She plans to apply to the COPHP MPH and Global Health MPH programs in the UW School of Public Health and hopes to stay connected with ARCH as she continues her academic and professional journey. Aisha is currently leading a photo-voice and research project in King County focused on healthcare access among low-income Black and Latino immigrant adults. She is also launching a social media page @Sunbreak.WA, promoting local health and social services with resources for King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties rolling out in mid to late June. Congratulations Aisha!
Carolyn Fan, Student Advisory Board Co-Chair, is graduating with a PhD in Health Services from the Department of Health Systems and Population Health. Her dissertation applied Public Health Critical Race Praxis (PHCRP), an antiracist research framework, to explore structural determinants of health across race, sexual orientation, and gender. Her work included a review of how PHCRP is used in health research, an analysis of how racism and structural discrimination impact healthcare access for QTBIPOC (Queer and Trans Black and Indigenous people of color), and a collaborative project with undergraduates analyzing zines by QTBIPOC community groups. Carolyn is currently exploring postdoc and fellowship opportunities. Congratulations Carolyn!
Shauntel Thomas, of our Indigenous Advisory Collective, will graduate with a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration. For her capstone project, Thomas developed the foundation for a tribally specific, culturally grounded cancer assessment to meet the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in Washington State. Using the metaphor of weaving a basket, Thomas brought together academic research, Indigenous frameworks, and community voices to highlight priority areas of Indigenous communities. Thomas plans to continue working full-time at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center while exploring opportunities to support Indigenous communities. She is also considering becoming a public health nurse in her home on the Navajo Nation. Congratulations Shauntel!
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