Newswise – Michael Vega, Rutgers School of Public Health’s Assistant Dean for Student and Alumni Services, received the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Student Services Award for Excellence 2022.
In her role, Vega oversees counseling, student support, career counseling services, student programs, conduct and alumni relations. Since launching the school’s Student Support Services Office in 2018, it has unified services at the school’s two sites in Newark and New Brunswick.
Importantly, he amplified the awareness of at-risk students by developing practical resources on common issues and stressors facing students, increased student access to scholarships and emergency funding, and provided peer mentoring opportunities to build a stronger supportive community.
“Congratulations to Dr Vega,” said Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. “He is an innovative leader in student services, building an office from the ground up with student voices at the center, and developing resources, training and development opportunities for faculty and staff to be more effective, intentional and supportive in addressing student needs while keeping an eye out for the many intersectional identities that members of our population possess.
Prior to her work at the Rutgers School of Public Health, Vega held positions within Residence Life, Disability Services, Counseling, Financial Aid and Educational Opportunities Programs, which have shaped its professional identity as a strategic leader in student services.
Vega holds a PhD in Higher Education Leadership, Management and Policy as well as a Masters in Social Work. During his doctoral program, he embraced his identity as the only Latino male in his cohort, focusing his research on ways in which other Latino men may be more persistent toward academic success, specifically assessing the relationship between their masculinity and academic engagement behaviors and results. His research interests also focus on understanding the impact of identity development on the college outcomes of underrepresented minority students. His experiences as a first generation college student, LGBTQ + Latino scholar, and advocate for underrepresented minority groups have been critical in defining how he develops opportunities for students to have a safe space to navigate their educational experiences. while experiencing and addressing the impact of their intersectional identities. can have on this experience.
“I am honored to receive the 2022 ASPPH Student Services Excellence Award,” said Vega. “It is a reflection of the commitment, passion and dedication I have for a career that I love so much and the investment I aim to provide to students and new public health professionals each and every. day.”
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About the Rutgers School of Public Health
The Rutgers School of Public Health is the only accredited public health school in New Jersey that seeks to improve health and prevent disease in diverse populations in New Jersey and around the world by educating students to become leaders, qualified and effective public health researchers and researchers. practitioners; conduct research to advance science and public health policy; and provide service programs that promote the health of people and individuals. Visit us at https://sph.rutgers.edu and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to learn how we ‘keep the’ public ‘in public health.