STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The Rollins School of Public Health is made up of myriad groups and actively engaged leaders. Below is a list of the current organizations chartered by our student government association, but new student organizations may form. All student organizations are advised by the Student Engagement Team in the Office of Student Affairs and supported by Rollins. Official RSPH student organizations are open to all RSPH students and their allies. Affinity groups offer supportive spaces for students who share an identity, such as a common race or heritage, to discuss mutual concerns, advocate for the interest of these groups and help each other to navigate RSPH and Emory University. The following groups are available either in the School of Public Health specifically or at Emory University. All affinity groups are open to all community members who share the groups’ missions of supporting the success of the group’s members.
Rollins Student Government Association (RSGA)
RSGA is the governing student assembly of the Rollins School of Public Health. The purpose of RSGA is to advocate for students and enrich the experience of their time at Rollins. RSGA addresses students’ needs and concerns regarding school facilities, current administration, academia, extracurricular activities, and more. RSGA presides over department student representatives of Rollins and the student organizations. The annual budget of the RSGA and Rollins student organizations are allocated from the student activity fees paid by students. Annual elections for the executive board and departmental representative positions are held each October or November.
RSGA also includes two student initiatives: the RSGA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the Rollins International Student Advisory Board (RISAB).
Asian, Pacific, Islander, Desi Association (APIDA)
APIDA is an RSPH student organization with a mission to support the academic, professional, and personal development of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi’s students in the field of Public Health. APIDA’s purpose is to provide opportunities for students to discuss historical and current issues affecting APID communities both globally and locally; network and social with other current, past, and prospective APID Public Health graduate students and faculty; and provide an APID community within Rollins.
Association of Black Public Health Students (ABPHS)
ABPHS is designed to enhance the experience of minority students attending the Rollins School of Public Health, to encourage community engagement, and to raise consciousness of health issues concerning Black communities in the U.S. and abroad. ABPHS strives to augment the graduate experience by providing opportunities for academic support, professional growth, community service, and social bonding within the Rollins community and greater Atlanta metro area.
Black Birth Justice League (BBJL)
The Black Birth Justice League (BBJL) is a graduate student–led organization at the Rollins School of Public Health dedicated to advancing birth justice and improving maternal health outcomes for Black mothers and birthing people in Georgia. Their mission is to empower Emory Rollins students to work alongside community partners to address systemic inequities in maternal health through education, advocacy, and community-engaged public health initiatives that center the lived experiences of Black communities.
Emory Global Health Organization (EGHO)
The goal of EGHO is to facilitate engagement in global health outside the classroom. To accomplish this, EGHO works through several different committees, each of which focuses on an important aspect of student interests. Through these communities, EGHO works to engage in global health issues through service and advocacy; foster global health awareness and encourage the growth of a global perspective; increase resources and opportunities available to all students with an interest in global health; and build connections with each other and with professionals in the field.
Emory Mental Health Association (EMHA)
The mission of EMHA is to foster a community of positive mental health, awareness of negativity, and stigma reduction. EMHA works to communicate this mission to Emory students and the greater Atlanta community with a shared goal of changing the conversation on mental health to one of acceptance and support. EMHA hosts several events throughout the year bringing mental health professionals and Emory students together to educate the community and advocate for current mental health topics.
Emory Reproductive Health Association (ERHA)
ERHA promotes reproductive health and rights awareness through community outreach, research and fund-raising locally and globally. The purpose of ERHA is to increase awareness of current local and global reproductive health issues through educational outreach through guest speakers, films, and distribution of information; be actively involved in the Emory and Atlanta communities by volunteering with local organizations focused on disparities in reproductive health; and to fundraise for reproductive causes, more specifically the Global Elimination of Maternal Mortality Due to Abortion (GEMMA) fund established by Dr. Roger Rochat.
Emory Students for One Health (ESOH)
One Health is an approach that recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment. ESOH provides learning and professional development opportunities that focus on collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approaches in local and global communities. Additionally, it is a multidisciplinary organization that seeks to achieve optimal health outcomes while recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plans, and their shared environment.
Georgia Public Health Ambassadors (GPHA)
Georgia Public Health Ambassadors is an association of individuals and organizations working to improve the public’s health. GPHA’s mission is to advocate for conditions in which all people and communities can be healthy; to promote the scientific foundation of public health practice and policy; and to assure a continuous voice broadly representing public health in Georgia. In addition to advocating for the health of Georgia residents, the chapter also organizes several events to increase awareness of public health issues, provide professionalism training to students, and promote general health and well-being to students.
Health Reduction Education and Risk Reduction Organization (HERO)
The mission of H.E.R.O. is to empower and educate the community within the Rollins School of Public Health, fostering a culture of informed decision-making and responsible behavior. Through evidence-based practices and inclusive education, we strive to promote harm reduction strategies, advocating for the well-being and safety of all individuals. By fostering a supportive and non-judgmental environment, we aim to reduce health risks and promote a comprehensive understanding of public health challenges, thereby contributing to a healthier and more resilient community.
Humanitarian Emergency Response Team (HERT)
HERT aims to provide students with an opportunity to collaborate with public health professionals and contribute to research projects related to complex humanitarian emergencies. Members are selected through a competitive application process.
Jewish Students for Public Health (JSPH)
The mission of the JSPH is to create a thriving Jewish atmosphere for Emory public health students. JSPH aims to share knowledge about Judaism and Jewish principles to the Emory Rollins School of Public Health. JSPH strives to promote the well-being of all communities at Rollins through advocacy, education, and service. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every student can engage in open and meaningful dialogue, while embracing Jewish values.
La Alianza Latinx (LAL)
La Alianza Latinx is a student-led organization interested in issues affecting the Latinx community at the Rollins School of Public Health, in the metro Atlanta area, throughout the United States, and internationally. LAL strives to strengthen and build a Latinx community at the Rollins School of Public Health by creating a space that enables students to excel academically, professionally, and socially. LAL is committed to building community, supporting mentorship, uplifting educational advancement, and promoting advocacy for and improvement of Latinx health, Latinx students, and undocumented students at Emory University.
Public Health Students for Palestine and Collective Liberation (PHPCL)
The purpose of PHPCL is to promote multidisciplinary engagement in theory and praxis of collective liberation in public health utilizing a decolonial framework examining systemic drivers of health inequity in the context of Palestinian health.
Queer Trans Collaborative at Rollins (QTC)
QTC supports and advances the interests of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other fluid identity) individuals connected to the Rollins School of Public Health. QTC is committed to increasing visibility, academic discourse, networking opportunities, future leaders, and solidarity among LGBTQ+ persons.
Rollins African Diaspora Student Association (RADSA)
RADSA seeks to build a community of students from the African diaspora studying and working in public health. This student organization serves as a space for Rollins students in the African diaspora to network, discuss historical and current issues in African communities, and advocate for their interests.
Rollins Environmental Health Action Committee (REHAC)
REHAC believes that the environment influences our health and as health advocates we must also promote a safe and sustainable community. It seeks to improve and protect our living and working environment through locally focused and collaborative education, action and reaction.
Rollins mHealth Collaboration (RmC)
The RmC provides student and faculty a forum to explore the global mobile health phenomenon while building practical skills in mobile tech systems design, implementation, scaling and evaluation. Their two priority areas include: Introducing students and faculty to the field of mHealth and educating students and faculty in mHealth systems design, implementation, scaling, and evaluation.
Rollins Public Health Advocates for Student Wellness (PHACW)
The Rollins Public Health Advocates for Children’s Wellness (PHACW) mission is to empower Emory Rollins college students to work alongside community partners to address key challenges facing children’s health and well-being. The PHACW seeks to be a grad student community at Rollins School of Public Health dedicated to improving the lives of children through public health initiatives.
Student Outbreak and Response Team (SORT)
SORT is a collaborative effort between the DeKalb County Board of Health and the Rollins School of Public Health’s Center for Public Health Preparedness & Research, whose mission is “To promote future public health leadership by providing students with hands-on experiences that contribute to improved community health.” SORT provides current public health students with the opportunity to apply public health theory in practical settings. Students are chosen annually at the start of the fall semester via a competitive process to participate in this program.
Society for Public Health in Medicine (SPHM)
SPHM is a student organization dedicated to meeting the growing need for peer support and faculty guidance as current Rollins students look to continue their academic journey in MD and DO programs following the completion of their MPH/MSPH degree.
WASH Action Research & Practice (WARP)
Students in WARP are committed to breaking the cycle of poverty and disease in developing countries through increasing access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and appropriate hygiene. Students in WARP collaborate with faculty members to host events that feature WASH researchers in the Atlanta-area and increase awareness of WASH-related diseases.