Awards and Funding

Incoming Student Funding

Graduate students in the Public Health Leadership Program are eligible for a variety of funding opportunities. A listing of available funding and awards sponsored by the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and other resources is maintained by the School’s Office of Student Affairs.

The UNC Graduate School support a small number of competitively awarded merit assistantships. The Public Health Leadership Program and each of the School’s Departments may nominate incoming students who meet stringent academic criteria. Awardees are selected on a campus-wise, highly competitive basis. For a student to be eligible for nomination, they must apply as a full-time residential student and have an available GRE report. Students may not apply directly but may indicate their desire to be considered for this award when applying. Application deadlines to be announced.

The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health offers other incoming student awards (e.g., Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship, Annual Fund, etc) for which students may not apply directly but may indicate their desire to be considered when applying. Application deadlines will be announced in the fall.
The Public Health Leadership Program has received funding to annually award the top student(s) with the Gillings Merit Scholarship(s). All degree-seeking graduate applicants are considered and the recipient(s) is selected based on their academic merit, exceptional promise and potential.

To apply for the Awards below, follow this link to the Online Application Form. The deadline is Wednesday, March 1, 2023, by 11:55 pm EST.

Health Leadership Awards

Individuals interested in helping provide financial support for the following awards may do so online at the Gillings School of Global Public Health Donate Now page by clicking on the Public Health Leadership Program.

Rachel Stevens Scholarship for Public Health Leadership (established in 2004)

2023: Two scholarships available ($1,000 each)

Purpose: To provide scholarships for incoming and currently enrolled graduate students in the Public Health Leadership Program who are committed to leadership in the field of public health practice. A scholarship of up to $1,000 will be available for graduate students in the Public Health Leadership Program in the School of Public Health, established in the 2003-2004 academic year.

History: Dr. Rachel Stevens was one of the founders of the Public Health Leadership Program, which is dedicated to preparing public health practitioners for leadership positions. Rachel Stevens is an effective visionary, a valued mentor and a gracious leader who has meant much to public health practitioners across North Carolina and throughout the Southeast. It is most appropriate that a scholarship benefiting the legacy of Rachel Stevens has been established in her name at Carolina.

Eligibility: All admitted students in the Public Health Leadership Program are eligible, with preference given to students who have completed approximately one-third of their degree requirements and a demonstrated commitment to continued practice and service in the field of public health practice. Recipients may be awarded a second year of funding.

Selection Criteria: Selection will be based on the applicant’s demonstrated commitment and minimum of five years of experience in the field of public health practice; leadership skills and academic excellence. Financial need will also be considered. Awardees are selected after review by a committee including the Associate Director of the Public Health Leadership Program and one other faculty or staff member from the Public Health Leadership Program. Disbursement shall be at the discretion of the Director of the Public Health Leadership Program.

Award: Recipients will receive a monetary award.

The Association of North Carolina Boards of Health (ANCBH) Scholarship in Public Health Leadership
One named for: Vaughn Upshaw, established in the 2009-2010 academic year
One named for: Robert Blackburn, established in the 2018-2019 academic year

2023: Two scholarships available ($1,000 each)

Purpose: To recognize a resident of North Carolina who, like Dr. Vaughn Upshaw, demonstrates leadership in public health.

History: The award is named for Vaughn Upshaw (MPH ’85, ED ’97, DrPH ’99), a faculty member in the UNC School of Government, and formerly a faculty member in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr. Upshaw was instrumental in the development of the Public Health Leadership Program (PHLP). She helped to focus the PHLP mission on the important needs of educating public health practitioners in local health departments and the important role of local boards of health. The PHLP has demonstrated its focus on this mission through the growth and documented quality of its very successful Masters in Public Health degree program over the years resulting in many graduates of the program who are employed by local health departments throughout North Carolina. Along with Carl Durham and John Rouse, Dr. Upshaw was a driving force in both founding and the continued success of ANCBH. Additionally, she and Ned Baker were the co-founders of the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH).

Award: Recipients will receive a monetary award.

Purpose: To recognize a resident of North Carolina who, like Dr. Bob Blackburn, demonstrates leadership in public health.

History: The award is named for Robert R. Blackburn (MA’68, ED ’69), a lifelong educator and public health advocate. After teaching in public schools and earning his doctorate, he became a professor at Louisiana College and Gardner-Webb University where he was a professor for 24 years. He chaired the Department of Health and Physical Education for 19 years prior to his retirement in 1996. Dr. Blackburn was an effective advocate for public health at local, regional, state and national levels. On the state level, he has been President of the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health, Chair of the North Carolina School Health Advisory Committee and Vice Chair of the NC Local Health Department Accreditation Board. He served as a member of Healthy Carolinians Task Force, accreditation site visit teams, the NC Task Force on Obesity, the Eat Smart Move More Leadership Team, the NC Institute of Public Health Assessment Team. Nationally, Dr. Blackburn was President of the Association for the Advancement of Health Education, President of the Society of Association Management, President of the National Association of Local Boards of Health, and President of the Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education. In addition, he chaired the Joint Committee on National Health Education Standards which published its work in 1995 and served on the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Council on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. An accomplished author, Dr. Blackburn co-authored a successful book, Advocacy from A to Z, for boards and individuals wanting to learn more about advocacy.

Eligibility: All current students in the Public Health Leadership Program are eligible to apply.

Selection Criteria: Selection will be based on the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to leadership in public health, with preference given to students who are residents of North Carolina. Awardees are selected after review by a committee including Vaughn Upshaw, and one other faculty or staff member from the Public Health Leadership Program. Disbursement shall be at the discretion of the Director of the Public Health Leadership Program.

Award: Recipients will receive a monetary award.

David Steffen and Jill Kerr Family Scholarship

2023: Two scholarships available ($2,000 each)

Purpose: To support students within the Public Health Leadership Program, or its programmatic successor. It is the Donor’s preference that while the Fund be made available to all qualified students, particular attention be given to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to improving public health practice.
History: Two scholarships will be available for currently enrolled graduate students in the Public Health Leadership Program in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, established in October 2021 with the first scholarships awarded in Spring 2023.

Eligibility: All admitted students in the Public Health Leadership Program are eligible.

Selection Criteria: Selection will be based on the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to the field of public health practice and improving the practice. Awardees are selected after review by a committee including the Associate Director of the Public Health Leadership Program and at least one other faculty or staff member from the Public Health Leadership Program. Disbursement shall be at the discretion of the Director of the Public Health Leadership Program.

Award: Recipients will receive a monetary award.

Selection will be based on the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to local public health agencies, leadership skills, academic excellence, and contributions to North Carolina.

Additional Awards and Student Funding

For the Gillings School of Global Public Health scholarship descriptions, application process and deadlines, please see the School’s Student Affairs Student Awards and Funding page. To explore Fellowship opportunities and other funding support, please see the UNC Graduate School website, UNC Graduate and Professional Student Funding and UNC GLOBAL funding.