Environmental Health Sciences Mentors

Ali is a Manager in the Center for Consumerism at AVIA. He leads research on relevant topics and trends in digital strategy, specifically focused on patient communication, consumer strategy, and value based care, while adding value and contributing to strategic growth for health systems through advisory project work.

Prior to joining AVIA, Ali worked in administration in the ambulatory department at Henry Ford Health, where he conducted market assessments on regional competitors, helped shape a contact center strategy, and played an active role in a joint venture agreement with GoHealth. He also led efforts in the Contact Center to reduce turnover, enhance team engagement, and streamline operations.

Ali holds a Bachelor’s in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, and a Master’s of Health Services Administration in Health Management and Policy - both from the University of Michigan.

Hi! I'm Alison, I graduated from UM's MPH program in 2019. I currently work as a research grant editor at the University of Michigan, specifically supporting proposals that are focused on health services research. Some of my previous roles include program manager for a research coordinating center and clinical trial coordinator in the UM School of Nursing (focused on nutrition for chronic conditions). I am grateful to have had a variety of experience in public health communications and academic research. I'm from Grand Rapids, MI and I currently live in Ann Arbor with my dog, cat, and husband. I like reading, baking, running, and being outside, and I am looking forward to meeting you!

 Bhavna Sivanand is the founding Executive Director of the Center for Impact at UCLA Anderson School of Management. In this role, Bhavna is responsible for growing the Center’s vision and strategy, garnering financial resources, managing the Center’s evolving board, creating innovative programs and engaging with students, alumni, faculty and impact professionals in the community. The goal of the Center for Impact is to shift mindsets about the role of business in addressing the world's greatest challenges by integrating social impact and sustainability across the core curriculum, curating global projects to expose students to international challenges, and providing rigorous training for students committed to being change agents throughout their careers. Bhavna's interest in social innovation grew out of her background in public health and her experience establishing public-private partnerships to address chronic diseases through the social determinants of health. Prior to this role, Bhavna spent over 15 years in the field of public health, starting her career in international development in Ghana, and continuing her experience working across all three levels of the Canadian government to further national health goals. She holds an MPH from the University of Michigan and an MBA from UCLA Anderson. Her undergraduate degree in Biology and Psychology is from the University of Toronto.

I have over 18 years of experience leading EHS programs with a focus on manufacturing and laboratory research safety. My areas of expertise include hazard assessment, exposure monitoring, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and environmental compliance. I recently joined Medtronic, the largest global medical device manufacturer. My current role is Principal EHS Specialist supporting the recently-acquired Dexter, MI, site, where we manufacture life-saving extracorporeal life support (ECLS) products. Prior to Medtronic, I held EHS-focused positions at the University of Michigan Department of Environment, Health & Safety and with NSF International, an Ann Arbor-based global public health and safety organization. I also have several years of experience conducting pharmaceutical and academic research. I am a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and I earned my MPH degree in Industrial Hygiene from the UM School of Public Health. Go Blue!

Cristina is a dedicated safety professional with a strong background in public health and industrial hygiene. Currently serving as an Industrial Hygiene/Safety Specialist at MYR Group, she holds a Master of Public Health in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Michigan and graduated in 2023. MYR Group is an electrical infrastructure, commercial, and industrial contractor who owns 13 subsidiaries.

Her credentials include the Certificate of Risk Management (CRM), Graduate Safety Professional (GSP), and Certified Office Ergonomics Evaluator (COEE), supporting a broad skill set in risk analysis and workplace safety. Prior to MYR Group, she worked as a Workplace Health and Safety Specialist at Amazon Logistics, gaining valuable experience in fast-paced, high-demand environments.

Cristina is passionate about creating safer, healthier work environments and promoting a strong culture of safety across industries

 Strategic Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Leader with consistent success in delivering outstanding results through technical knowledge, business acumen, collaboration and continuous improvement. Developed and empowered strong teams and motivated site leaders to achieve EHS excellence. Recognized as credible and dependable leader by the executive management team. Received numerous EHS awards and community recognition while managing proactive, cost effective and beyond compliance programs.

Hello, students! Welcome to UMich, and I hope you have as fantastic of a time at this institution as I did. My name is Dylan Kilby, and I attended UMich from 2018-2020, earning my MPH in Epidemiology through the Global Health track as well as a graduate certificate in Risk Science & Human Health.

I was a nontraditional student in grad school, beginning my studies at 26 after five years spent working with sled dogs in Alaska and healthcare economics consulting in Washington, DC. I worked closely with Dr. Sara Adar for most of my time at UMich, and she strongly supported my interests in exposure sciences. I also took courses through the College of Information, which got me interested in crisis informatics and how epidemiology can fit into emergency work. I did my summer internship with the Universidad de Chile in Santiago, Chile, and also met my future wife when we got our MPHs at the same time :)

I have worked at the intersection of emergency management and public health since March 2020, shortly after the official federal declaration of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I spent a year in California directly involved in the State's response, and then continued to support the response remotely for another two years (2021-2023). I've worked with the California Department of Public Heath, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and various counties and small colleges throughout the American West. My work currently mostly involves hazard mitigation, risk communications planning, and GIS analysis of risk and vulnerabilities.

Outside of my professional life, I'm also an active mountaineer throughout Colorado and California. I'm on the management committee of the Sierra Peaks Section of the Sierra Club, and I volunteer with the national Sierra Club and the Colorado Mountain Club as a GIS expert and statistician. I'm looking to join the Alpine Search & Rescue team in the Front Range mountains of Colorado next year. It's certainly a way to directly experience exposure science!

48 years of experience working in Toxicology. I haved worked at the US EPA and WHO. I have also spent many years as a consultant helping companies navigate the data needs of EPA and FDA for pesticides, food additives and pharmaceuticals. Part-time Professor at George Washington University School of Medicine and School of Public Health. Active in the Society of Toxicology and International Society for Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.

44 years EHS&S leadership experience in automotive, aerospace, consulting & County Health Departments. In 34+ years as EHS&S Director at ZF (formerly TRW Automotive) I led EHS&S Teams (Corporate and in manufacturing sites) responsible for all aspects of EHS compliance in the Americas & Asia Pacific, as a member of Executive Mgt. I was responsible for EHS staff leadership including staff professional development & mentoring, performance reviews, salary planning, etc. I directed the ZF/TRWA global (at sites in 40+ countries) EHS compliance audit & corrective action programs; development and implementation of global EHS Management Systems to drive continuous improvement of EHS programs; creation of sustainability programs to minimize CO2 emissions thru energy reduction & use of alternative energy sources; resource conservation thru water & waste elimination; product recycling, life cycle analysis, etc.

   In 2020-2022 I led ZF COVID19 preparedness and response programs in the Americas, including pandemic risk reduction actions, employee screening, immunizations & case management, Agency reporting, etc. with our regional/site medical & EHS staff.

   I have 40+ years environmental due diligence investigation with soil & groundwater remediation expertise managing projects on 6 continents.

   I directed physical security programs for Executive Management and global Operations.

   Prior to automotive (starting 1990), I worked at CH2M Hill conducting risk assessment on env. exposure at CERCLA & RCRA cleanup sites, managing RCRA & UST projects, air quality sampling, water and soil sampling, etc.

   I also worked in Aerospace industry (at TRW S&D, & Hughes Aircraft GSG) in CA managing RCRA, TSCA, CERCLA, and env. remediation programs.

   Early in my career, I worked at 3 County Env. Health Departments conducting RCRA & restaurant inspections; groundwater & surface water quality studies.

Hello, my name is In Kyu. From 2018 to 2020, I studied Epidemiology at the University of Michigan. I am 5th year PhD candidate and currently pursuing my studies in the Environmental Health Sciences department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. My research focuses on air and noise pollution.

Currently leading the charge for P&G Grooming to achieve Ambition 2030 and Net Zero 2040 objectives. Focused on capability building, culture, communication for greenhouse gas reduction strategies.

 Career has evolved from Industrial Hygienist to leading Corporate Sustainability initiatives with some stops in auditing, quality management, and packaging materials!

I'm the Environmental Health Director with the Washtenaw County Health Department. I began my public health career as a Sanitarian performing restaurant inspections and have worked in various roles that now oversee all of our local governmental environmental health programs, including onsite septic system permitting, onsite drinking water well permitting, restaurant inspections, water contamination monitoring, pollution prevention, swimming pool inspections, day care inspections, and more. Local governmental environmental health is a dynamic career with a blend of office and field work, education and regulation and working independently and with the community to improve and protect both public and environmental health.

Mr. Herron has over 15 years of experience as a practicing Ergonomist and Safety Professional. He has worked in a wide range of industries including healthcare, automotive, and aerospace as well as research and development.

  He is the Lead Safety Engineer for the Mechanical Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute. Mr. Herron has expertise in building, managing, and auditing OHS management systems, applying occupational safety engineering, ergonomics/human factors, and industrial engineering principles to solve complex safety issues.

  Mr. Herron holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering (NIOSH Trainee in Occupational Safety Engineering and Ergonomics) from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of West Georgia. Additionally, he is a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Texas, and he has earned the designations of Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE). He also holds the Certified Safety and Health Official (CSHO) certificate in both General Industry and Construction.

 Mr. Herron is also a long-time member and volunteer leader for the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). He currently serves as the Vice President of the Council on Region Affairs (CoRA). As the Chair for this Society Level Council, he oversees all nine (9) of the Regional Vice Presidents (RVPs) from around the world. He provides support and guidance to the RVPs that aligns with ASSP's bylaws, operating procedures, as well as their CLEAR Values.

Furthermore, Mr. Herron is an Ambassador for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) in which he talks with various groups and organizations about the benefits of Professional Safety Designations and Certifications.

Michael is currently an EHS & ESG Implementation Specialist at APTIM where he helps clients improve their EHS programs, processes and software tools. Michael also works with several clients and groups within APTIM to design and deliver Power BI Dashboards and other BI tools.

   Previously, Michael held several roles at General Motors, including Global Safety Analytics Lead, Regional Industrial Hygienist, Global Research & Development (R&D) Safety Representative, and Pre-Production Operations (PPO) Safety Representative.

   He holds a Master of Public Health in Exposure Science & Industrial Hygiene and a Bachelor of Science in Biomolecular Sciences, both from the University of Michigan.

   Michael is also a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and a Certified Safety Professional (CSP).

   He has leadership experience with the Michigan Industrial Hygiene Society and is a member of the ASSP Z16.1 Safety and Health metrics Committee. Michael has also mentored for the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan's Student Alumni Mentorship Program since 2017.

Mora McPherson is an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) professional with four years of experience at Neogen, where she currently supports EHS efforts for 14 facilities in Lansing, MI. She holds a Master of Public Health in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health Management from Grand Valley State University. Mora also earned the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) certification and is actively pursuing her Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credential, with plans to pursue Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certification in the future.

Her professional background includes internships in both the aerospace and packaging industries, where she gained hands-on experience in hazard mitigation, regulatory compliance, and workplace safety program development. Mora is passionate about advocating for employees, advancing workplace health protections, and bridging the gap between public health and occupational safety. Inspired by her family’s experiences as migrant and automotive factory workers, she is committed to creating safer, healthier workplaces for all employees through empathy, education, and continuous improvement.

Ruby Hickman is an environmental epidemiologist passionate about understanding the links between our environment and neurological and cognitive health across the lifespan. She graduated with her PhD in Population Health Sciences from Harvard School of Public Health in August 2025 and holds a MPH in Epidemiology from University of Michigan School of Public Health. As of January 2026, she will be working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Emory Rollins School of Public Health. She lives in Chandler Arizona and in her free time enjoys being out on trails, knitting, and playing video games.

• Recently retired after a varied and successful career in the public and private sectors

• Hired and/or mentored many early in career professionals; four year participant in SPH’s Student-to-Alumni Mentoring Program; father of three and grandfather of five

• Proud Michigan alum with three UM degrees:  BS in Microbiology (‘81), MPH in Environmental & Industrial Health (‘83), and MS in Environmental Health Sciences (‘85)

• Began working at Ann Arbor’s county health department part time (as the public swimming pool inspector) while a graduate student and became a Registered Sanitarian and leader of a novel program to identify and eliminate illicit connections to the county storm drain system (4 years)

• Moved to a Fortune 500 agricultural firm with over 100 manufacturing and distribution facilities and over 3,000 employees engaged in grain, fertilizers, lawn care products, ethanol production, rail car repair, and more; served as Director, Corporate Hazard Management and led a team of over 20 dedicated professionals responsible for safety, occupational health, environmental protection, fire protection, security, regulatory compliance, due diligence, and related areas (31 years)

• Took on a newly created position with a Fortune 250 auto parts manufacturer with over 100 facilities and over 40,000 employees worldwide; served as Senior Manager, EHS Systems & Training and focused on ISO 14001 and 45001 certification programs (with over 100 facilities certified); development and implementation of a corporate-wide “Safety Certified” employee training program (requiring completion of 66 courses over 40+ hours contact time); corporate EHS policy and procedure development and maintenance; contractor safety management; and corporate COVID-19 response / prevention programs; among others (8 years)

Education:BS Sanitation, MPH PH, MPH Planning,Dr.PH-EHS Professional Experience: Senior Researcher in PH--EHS of the MoH Indonesia, Associate Prof in PH-EHS, Management Social Development the University of Indonesia, Project Director of USAID SDES Project Ex Director, WB Population project,Evaluation Project for WASH,HIV/AIDS,GFATM funded by Red Cross of Indonesia, Japanese, Nederlands, and Spanish.Developing International Conference of Enhancing Reading Literacy Crisis in Jakarta, Indonesia 20-25, 2026. Writing a book One Health; Project Management. Training module of Project Planning,Strategic Planning, Environmental Healt.

Swati works as a Toxicologist, where she brings her expertise to the forefront of addressing critical environmental challenges and applying them in regulatory practice. With a solid foundation built during her tenure at the University of Michigan, Swati specialized in Environmental Health Sciences and Toxicology, along with a graduate certificate in Risk Sciences and Human Health, demonstrating a keen dedication to understanding the intricate interactions between environmental factors and human health. Her academic pursuits have honed her research abilities, particularly in the realm of Molecular Biology, where she delves into the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental toxins and their impact on biological systems. As an Associate Toxicologist, she primarily focuses on conducting quantitative and qualitative risk assessments, for clients primarily in the consumer products and personal care product industries. She also uses chemical modeling tools to perform hazard assessments, and conducts toxicological reviews for products being evaluated under various ANSI accredited standards. Prior to her current role, Swati worked for ICF as an Environmental Health Scientist, where she helped draft systematic reviews and technical reports for clients from the EPA and NIEHS. Beyond her technical expertise, Swati possesses exceptional leadership abilities, adeptly steering collaborative efforts towards impactful outcomes. Her commitment to teamwork fosters an environment of innovation and synergy, where diverse perspectives converge to address multifaceted challenges.

I am an epidemiologist currently working in clinical research around perioperative pain and opioid use, which has allowed me to have a more patient facing role in addition to the data (blood draws, MRIs, functional/pain testing). In my previous role I worked as a project manager on a suicide prevention center for recently incarcerated individual, which allowed to be more involved in the IRB and study creation side of things. Throughout my education and career, I've worked with many vulnerable populations in various capacities including but not limited to pregnant women/new mothers and children, recently incarcerated individuals, individuals suffering from mental illness including ppl declared NGRI/IST, individuals struggling with addiction, low income African American, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, etc. Outside of my career I also have many interests including traveling, going to concerts, plants, working out, puzzles, cooking and spending time with friends/family

Dr. Burton trained in occupational medicine at the University of Michigan and is board certified in that field. He is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He practiced hospital occupational health as Medical Director of the Henry Ford Health System Employee Health Center in Detroit from 1991-1995 and Medical Director of the St. Joseph Mercy Health System Employee Health Services in Ann Arbor from 1999-2002. He also practiced for years in an outpatient occupational medicine clinic setting and from 2007 - 2019 for General Motors as a plant medical director. Dr. Burton has played a leadership role in the Michigan Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He has been a lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and School of Nursing. 

• A.B. Economics, U.C. Berkeley (1978)

• Union steward, Local 42, Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers (California)

• Union steward, Lodge 1305, International Assn of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

• Lodge 606, International Assn of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (Colorado)

• M.P.H., University of Michigan School of Public Health (1981)

• J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School (1984)

• President, Asian Pacific American Bar Assn, Pennsylvania,

• Vice President, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

Urvi Mujumdar recently pivoted her career to higher education as a Learning Facilitator at Boston University (BU) School of Public Health online Master of Public Health (MPH) program. She is also beginning the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at BU this fall. 

She brings a multidisciplinary background in academic research, consulting, and the pharmaceutical industry, with experience in epidemiology and health outcomes research. Her academic and professional interests include health equity, addressing racial and gender disparities, population health, minority women’s health, maternal and child care, and applying real-world public health concepts to enhance teaching and learning. 

She holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, and a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology and Cognitive Science, both from the University of Michigan. 

I earned my MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and my MPH in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. I recently joined DaVita as part of their Redwoods Resident Program. My career spans healthcare management and occupational health. I am a Certified Industrial Hygienist and have served on the board of the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s Rocky Mountain Section. I’m excited to connect with Michigan School of Public Health students, share my experiences, and help guide your academic and professional journeys!