Celebrating our 2025 graduates

June 17, 2025 | Deirdre Lockwood

Five people stand together smiling. The second from left is wearing graduate regalia.

DEOHS Professor Christopher Simpson, PhD graduate Abebe Aberra and family. Photo: Lisa Van Cise.

DEOHS graduates applauded by their families, friends and faculty at a double-header of celebrations

Two graduates smile holding bouquets of flowers. — MS Thesis graduates Catherine Jennifer and Rachael Carter. Photo: Deirdre Lockwood.

For our 78 graduates in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS), June 16 was a day of jubilation. Many started the day in Seattle’s McCaw Hall at the UW School of Public Health’s graduation ceremony and finished it up with a departmental celebration at the UW Hans Rosling Center for Population Health.

The graduates were joined by family, friends, faculty and staff who cheered them on and showered them with flowers, leis and embraces in recognition of their hard work and accomplishments.

At the SPH ceremony, 2025 Omenn Award winner and Outstanding Master’s Student Cecilia Martindale began her speech by sharing that despite earning her master’s, this was her first college graduation ceremony — an experience shared by many of our other graduates who started their collegiate studies during the pandemic.

She followed up on a more serious note: “As public health professionals, we are a group determined to improve people's lives through better health. I cannot think of a more admirable goal,” she said. “I'm so proud to fight for public health with you all.”

At the departmental celebration, Lianne Sheppard, DEOHS professor and interim chair, spoke about our graduates’ multifaceted work to improve our community and communities around the state, country and world.

“The class of 2025 represents environmental and occupational health experts who will lead the next generation of public health,” she said.

Seven professors in graduation regalia stand together smiling. — DEOHS faculty members Joel Kaufman, Jerry Cangelosi, Lianne Sheppard, Marissa Baker, Karen Levy, Michelle Averill and Tania Busch Isaksen at the SPH graduation ceremony. Photo: Karen Levy.

Acknowledging the challenging time in our country for research funding and public health, Sheppard encouraged students to “lean into your strengths and pivot if you need to.”

“I believe that the University of Washington education you have received has prepared you well for the next step in your career, even if it takes you in an unexpected direction,” she said.