The Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) celebrated its 2026 Commencement Diploma Ceremony in historic Woolsey Hall. As parents snapped pictures and students cheered their peers, Dean Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH, praised the Class of 2026 for its accomplishments.
During the YSPH Diploma Ceremony, keynote speaker Sylvia Mathews Burwell urged graduates, in the words of Charles-Edward Amory Winslow, to “go forward with hope and courage.” Burwell’s speech reflected on the remarkable history of YSPH leaders across generations who built the foundations of healthier communities during challenging times.
Yale School of Public Health Diploma Ceremony 2026: Monday, May 18 @ 3 pm ET
Tess Gallant, MPH ’26
(Social & Behavioral Sciences)
Casey Wells, MPH ’26
(Health Policy)
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
Distinguished leader across government, philanthropy, and higher education
Shelley Diehl Geballe, JD ’76, MPH ’95, Professor in the Practice (Health Policy)
(Health Policy and Management)
Sean Becker, MPH ’26
(Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Reimaging health systems
My journey to public health began long before arriving at Yale. It began with me navigating chronic health challenges as a woman, trying to understand how systems often fail patients, especially women...
Advancing global health equity
At Yale, my academic journey has focused on purposeful work and meaningful impact. My practicum with the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation focused on designing innovative evaluation frameworks...
Studying community health systems
My public health journey began by coaching Special Olympics swimmers in Denver, an experience that gave me an early understanding of what preventive care can accomplish...
Making a business case for health equity
My path to public health has been shaped by a career focused on building health care solutions that combine strategy, access, and equity...
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Annual Student Awards!
Casey Wells, MPH ’26, a Health Policy student in the Department of Health Policy and Management, will deliver the student address at the 2026 Yale School of Public Health Commencement.
Sylvia Mathews Burwell, a distinguished leader across government, philanthropy, and higher education, will deliver the keynote address at the Yale School of Public Health’s annual Commencement on May 18, 2026.
Kathe Fox, board president of the Association of Yale Alumni in Public Health, is making a gift in honor of each graduate in the Class of 2026 — a reflection of her lifelong commitment to the school, and a celebration of the newest members of the YSPH alumni community. Her hope is that the spirit of giving back will carry forward through each new generation of YSPH alumni.
The Class of 2026 is already making an impact. Join them in giving back to the school that's shaping the future of public health.
Learn more about Kathe Fox in the full article: The Work That Matters→
Graduating students Himani Pattisam and Emily Goines share their reflections after spending a day advocating for public health on Capitol Hill.
Read the article: Inspired by community health, they took their message to Congress→
After 50 years of waiting, Bob Schwartz is finally having his moment. In 1976, Schwartz unexpectedly had to leave the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) just before he graduated. This May 18th, his story gets its proper ending.
Join Alumnifire, Yale School of Public Health’s vibrant online alumni community powered by alumni for both current and future graduates. It’s a great way to stay involved after graduation by connecting with fellow public health professionals, offering mentorship, sharing career advice, exploring job opportunities, and supporting the next generation of leaders.
Whether you want to network, give back, or stay in the loop, Alumnifire keeps you connected and engaged with the YSPH community.