Rising National Recognition
Fairfield University’s public health portfolio has achieved a significant milestone by earning its first national ranking from Niche, positioning the institution among the Best Colleges for Public Health in America. Ranked #88 nationally, Fairfield’s public health major—first introduced in 2018—has already established itself alongside prestigious, long-standing programs at institutions like the University of Iowa and Saint Louis University.
This achievement is particularly remarkable considering the relative youth of Fairfield’s public health offerings within the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. The rapid ascent in national rankings demonstrates the program’s quality, innovation, and commitment to excellence in preparing the next generation of public health professionals.
Alignment with Jesuit Mission
The growing reputation of Fairfield’s public health programs comes as no surprise to those familiar with the university’s core values. The discipline of public health aligns seamlessly with Fairfield’s Jesuit Catholic mission, particularly its strong commitment to social justice and service to others. This philosophical foundation permeates every aspect of the public health curriculum, shaping how students learn to address health disparities and promote community wellness.
Values-Driven Education
Fairfield’s public health programs emphasize the importance of understanding health as a fundamental human right and recognize that addressing public health challenges requires both scientific knowledge and ethical commitment. This values-driven approach prepares students not just as practitioners but as advocates for vulnerable populations and champions of health equity.
Community-Engaged Learning Excellence
Community-engaged learning serves as the cornerstone of Fairfield’s public health education philosophy. Through strategic partnerships with the Center for Social Impact, the university has developed numerous community-engaged learning courses that bridge classroom theory with real-world application. Students work directly with local organizations to identify community needs and implement sustainable solutions.
Real-World Impact Through Partnership
Associate Professor Jennifer Schindler-Ruwisch, DrPH, CPH, exemplifies this approach through her innovative community-engaged learning course on public health, disease, and injury. Students in her class collaborate with Caroline House, a language and literacy program serving recent immigrants in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to examine social determinants of health and design collective advocacy initiatives. This groundbreaking curriculum earned Dr. Schindler-Ruwisch the prestigious 2025 Delta Omega Award for Innovative Public Health Curriculum.
Award-Winning Faculty Leadership
Fairfield’s public health faculty members have distinguished themselves through both innovative teaching and scholarly excellence. Assistant Professor Bridget Hussain, PhD, RDN, CDCES, CDN, actively integrates service-learning into her courses and is currently developing an “Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics” course that incorporates community-engaged statistical analysis support for local programs.
National Recognition for Excellence
Dr. Hussain’s commitment to equity-centered work earned her selection to the 2025-26 cohort of Engaged Scholars, one of only 18 scholars chosen nationwide for this prestigious initiative. She plans to leverage this leadership and professional development program to further align her research and teaching with community needs.
Impactful Research and Scholarship
Beyond teaching excellence, Fairfield’s public health faculty members contribute significantly to the field through research published in respected peer-reviewed journals.
Research on HIV Prevention
Professor Anthony Santella, DrPH, MCHES, CPH, director of the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program, recently published important research exploring dental providers’ knowledge of HIV and their collaboration practices with HIV care professionals. His study, published in Health Promotion Practice, revealed critical knowledge gaps among dental providers—a population playing a vital role in public health initiatives—and emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration to address the HIV epidemic.
Infant Feeding Studies
Assistant Professor Kim Doughty, PhD, MPH, CHES, director of the undergraduate Public Health program, published research in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior examining mothers’ perceptions of judgment regarding infant feeding practices. Her study analyzed infant feeding campaigns across various social demographics, identifying the need for more nuanced breastfeeding messaging to support mothers’ feeding intentions.
Student Research Opportunities
A distinguishing feature of Fairfield’s public health programs is the emphasis on student involvement in meaningful research. Drs. Santella and Doughty coauthored their publications with Master of Public Health student Devin Flores ’23 and undergraduate student Lliana Joe ’26, respectively, demonstrating the program’s commitment to hands-on learning under expert mentorship.
Faculty Mentorship and Guidance
Additional examples include Dr. Hussain recruiting Meredith Hannigan ’25 for a systematic review on food insecurity and disordered eating among undergraduates, and Dr. Doughty guiding Anna Sherman ’24 through a senior capstone project on mental health and student-athletes. Both recent alumnae presented their research at prominent academic conferences, showcasing the caliber of undergraduate scholarship at Fairfield.
Future Growth and Accreditation
The public health portfolio at Fairfield continues to expand its offerings and enhance its reputation. Recent additions include the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree and achievement of national accreditation—both milestones accomplished within the past year. These developments position Fairfield’s public health programs for continued growth and increased impact in preparing future public health leaders.
The combination of community-engaged learning, faculty excellence, student research opportunities, and values-driven education creates a comprehensive framework for public health education that serves both students and communities. As Fairfield’s public health programs continue to grow in reputation and capability, the possibilities for student success and community impact have never been greater.
