The Consortium Of African-American Public Health Programs

· On August 6, 2009, Dr. Patricia Rodney was appointed Assistant Dean for Public Health Education at Morehouse School of Medicine

· In July 2009, Meharry received its CEPH accreditation for 5 years July 2009-June 2014

· In June 2009, Dr. Cynthia M. Harris became Co-Chair of CAAPHP

· In 2009, Morgan State University completed its CEPH site-visit, in anticipation of its re-accreditation

· In 2008, CAAPHP received an STD training and education grant from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

· In 2008, Jackson State University received its 5-yr accreditation as a public health program from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

DIRECTORS

Melanie J. Ragin

PhD

Fort Valley State University

Dr. Melanie J. Ragin was appointed Director and Assistant Professor of the Master of Public Health Program at Fort Valley State University in March 2009. Dr. Ragin received her PhD in Pathobiology, specializing in Immunology from The Pennsylvania State University, State College in 2005.

Prior to joining Fort Valley State University, Dr. Ragin served as the Health Commissioner for the City of Chester, PA from 2007 to 2008. She was a post-doctoral fellow in autoimmunity and molecular oncology at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute and at Johns Hopkins, respectively. Dr. Ragin has several scholarly publications in cellular-level research.

Dr. Ragin’s vision is for the public health program to expand on its current success. She plans to target students from a variety of backgrounds, not just environmental health, in order to draw a diverse group of people into the department.