Fall 2025
Meeting the Moment
By Sarah Timbie
Offices across Rollins support students, faculty, staff, and alumni amid change
The field of public health has faced major challenges in 2025 that disrupted careers, shifted priorities, and tested resilience. But the Rollins School of Public Health is responding by mobilizing its community to come together and support one another, expand student services, strengthen networks, and create new opportunities.
Bolstering Career Development Efforts at Rollins
Career Coaching
The Professional Advancement & Student Experience (PASE) Center offers students and alumni a range of career and professional development services, including resume review, mock interviews, and career exploration sessions.
“We are pleased to offer one-on-one career coaching resources to both our students and alumni, where they can meet with us virtually or in person and discuss any career-related topic,” says Srdjan Popović, executive director of professional development and career planning at PASE.
He adds, “Few of our peers offer this resource at the level we do with capacity and experience, and in our case, it's [offered for a] lifetime.”
Students and alumni can schedule in-person or virtual career coaching appointments at any point in their career. PASE also offers professional development workshops, employer information sessions, and career fairs for students and alumni.
The PASE Center conducted around 700 one-on-one appointments with students and alumni during the 2024-2025 academic year—and it is ready to continue that personalized support moving forward.
Building New Partnerships
The PASE Center regularly brings internal and external stakeholders to connect with students and alumni at employer information sessions and career fairs. It continues to expand the range of opportunities by building connections with employers that students may not have previously considered.
“Our partnership strategy has shifted with all the news and the changes this year to really tap into untraditional career areas,” says Popović.
Many students view federal roles as the primary path in public health, but Jonathan Burman, director of partnerships, encourages students to cast a wider net.
“A big part of this is looking at what it is that you learn as a public health student—your big data aggregation, communication strategies, that’s something that every organization can benefit from,” says Burman.
He emphasizes that the skills students develop at Rollins translate across industries and open opportunities far beyond traditional public health settings. These transferable skills have the power to drive meaningful change in areas of business, technology, and beyond.
Looking Ahead
Heading into fall 2025, the PASE Center is committed to providing Rollins students and alumni with meaningful career development events. In addition to its ongoing services, PASE is organizing career fairs and employer information sessions. It is also strengthening connections with Rollins student leaders to further enhance these events.
Students and alumni may also see some new employers and organizations at career events throughout the year. Burman is leveraging his connections to bring new partners to campus, and there are several exciting partnerships in the works for the coming year.
One of the standout additions: For the first time ever, Google will host an employer information session for Rollins students this fall.
Rollins Moves Forward Together
United in Mission
The Rollins community has come together to support each other in numerous ways over the last several months. For many, this has meant holding space for grief while finding a new path forward.
“We're learning how to support each other in this moment,” says Joanne Williams, executive director of PASE. “I know that we've had a lot of conversations with our faculty members in terms of how important it is for us to acknowledge that grief [we’re feeling about changes to public health] but also think about ways to move forward.”
Williams emphasizes that part of the process may involve remembering why many came to public health in the first place—the passion for furthering health and commitment to moving the field forward even when it is difficult.
“We have to get back to the root of who we are in public health and why we are here,” says Williams.
A Culture of Community
“We always say that once you're a part of the Rollins community, you're always part of the Rollins community,” says Michelle James, senior director of alumni engagement. “And I think we live and breathe that.”
The alumni engagement team has worked diligently to support alumni, hear their concerns, and share resources. But alumni have also been offering their own services, posting links to job boards, offering free resume and cover letter examples, and sharing career advice through alumni webinars and listening sessions.
“We’re not just getting people who have lost their jobs showing up on calls—we have alumni who still have their jobs but want to help those who do not,” says James. “We have alumni coming to help alumni, and alumni coming to help students.” “It's really been heartwarming, and I think that is what makes our Rollins community so special,” says James.
Whether you are a current student or have been out in the workforce for years, James emphasizes the Rollins commitment to serving its community.
“All you need to do is raise your hand to let us know you want to engage, and we will welcome you back into the fold.”
External Groups and Donors
Alumni and donors are always welcome to participate as mentors, guest speakers, or panelists in Rollins events and webinars. There are also many ongoing opportunities to sponsor career development events and workshops.
“We're a close, tight-knit community, but we're also open, and we always welcome folks in who want to help,” says Williams. “You're part of the family if you want to be.”
Additional Resources and Contact Information
PASE
- Students and alumni can make one-on-one appointments with the PASE Center through 12Twenty.
- Follow the PASE Center on Instagram (@rollins.pase) for program updates and career development events.
- Get in contact with the PASE Center (rollins.pase@emory.edu).
Alumni Engagement
- Stay connected through the Rollins alumni association.
- Email alumni engagement (sphalumni@emory.edu) to participate in a panel or webinar and share your expertise with current students.
- Get involved with alumni engagement activities.
Explore More Stories
Rollins Magazine is published twice a year by the Rollins School of Public Health, a component of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University, for alumni and friends of the school.