In celebration of National Public Health Week, the Temple University Barnett College of Public Health proudly announces a transformational gift from longtime faculty leader Alice J, Hausman to establish the Community-Centered Public Health Scholarship.
The endowed scholarship will provide financial support to a high-achieving graduate student enrolled in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program who demonstrate a commitment to practice-oriented public health policy and community engagement, with additional consideration for those from the Philadelphia region.
Hausman, a former department chair during the College’s time as the College of Health Professions, has dedicated her career to advancing public health education and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Her latest gift reflects both her professional legacy and her deep belief in equitable access to education.
“I have been inspired by the students I’ve worked with that go back to graduate school even though time and finances can be hardships,” said Hausman. “I have seen students who just need a little bit of help to be successful, and I want to encourage those students to follow their dreams of going back to school and making a difference in public health.”
Hausman noted that her vision for the scholarship is rooted in a community-centered approach to public health—one that prioritizes collaboration, listening, and shared power.
“The scholarship is focused on evidence-based practice in the context of community participation—learning from communities what will work best and ceding power to them to affect sustainable change,” she said. “I want to open doors of opportunity and make sure that the best people can come in and do the work of public health. It is even harder today for the best students to come back, and I want us to help them the best that we can.”
Hausman’s decision to establish the scholarship was inspired in part by former students such as Ayana Bradshaw, a Gallery of Success honoree whose career reflects the kind of impact Hausman hopes to support through this fund.
Her gift continues a broader family tradition of philanthropy and civic engagement, reinforcing a legacy of investing in institutions and initiatives that strengthen communities.
Barnett College of Public Health Dean Jennifer Ibrahim reflected on both Hausman’s personal impact and the broader significance of her gift. “This gift from our former Department of Public Health Chairperson Alice J Hausman—and the person who recruited me to come to Temple more than 20 years ago—means so much,” said Ibrahim. “She knows the incredible potential of our students, and she is supporting them in a big way.”
“And this comes at a time when we need public displays of support for public health and the good work that is being done,” she continued. “When public health is effective, we often take it for granted because bad things don’t happen. I am incredibly grateful to Alice for making such an investment.”
The Community-Centered Public Health Scholarship represents a significant investment in the future of public health—one that ensures talented, mission-driven students have the support they need to lead, innovate, and serve.
Hausman’s generosity stands as a powerful reminder that meaningful change begins with access, opportunity, and a commitment to lifting others.