Rutgers School of Public Health Faculty Recognized by the New Jersey Public Health Association
Three faculty members from the Rutgers School of Public Health will be honored at the New Jersey Public Health Association’s (NJPHA) Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony on October 16, 2025. These distinguished awards celebrate exceptional leadership, service, advocacy, research, and collaboration, all of which strengthen and advance public health across New Jersey.
These three faculty members embody the Rutgers School of Public Health’s commitment to our three pillars—scholarship, education, and community engagement.
Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH
Dean, Rutgers School of Public Health
Slawa Rokicki, assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, has been selected to receive the Lloyd M. Femly Award.
Established in 1976, the award is named after Lloyd M. Femly, Editor of the Newark Evening News and a friend of public health. It is presented to an individual for outstanding contribution in the media to the cause of public health in New Jersey.
"I'm truly honored to receive this award,” Rokicki said. “It is a privilege to share my research by engaging with media outlets in ways that inform and empower the public, and it is an incredibly meaningful part of my work."
Rokicki’s research focuses on improving reproductive, maternal, and child health, with a particular emphasis on how social and structural factors contribute to maternal health inequities. Her scholarship and expertise have been featured on several news outlets, including NJ Spotlight News and WRNJ.
Recognized with the Ezra Muncy Hunt Award, Mary Hrywna, associate professor in the Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, has been selected for outstanding service and leadership to the cause of public health. The award was established in 1995 and named after Dr. Ezra Mundy Hunt, a pioneer in 19th Century public health in New Jersey.
“I am truly honored to receive the Ezra Mundy Hunt Award from NJPHA and to be counted among its recipients,” Hrywna said. “It underscores the significance of this award and our shared commitment to strengthening public health in New Jersey.”
Hrywna’s expertise is in behavioral science and policy research, with a focus on tobacco regulatory science and tobacco control policies aimed at reducing use among young people and other priority populations.
Mitchel A. Rosen, professor in the Department of Urban-Global Health, will be receiving the Dennis J. Sullivan Award. The award is NJPHA’s highest honor and was established in 1976. It is named after Dennis J. Sullivan, a health officer who dedicated his life to improving New Jersey’s public health.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the Dennis J. Sullivan Award from the NJPHA,” Rosen said. “This award is a testament to the impactful work I've had the privilege of conducting with my colleagues at the Rutgers School of Public Health, and in collaboration with our dedicated public health professionals and organizations across New Jersey.”
These honors celebrate the extraordinary commitment, innovation, and leadership that continue to advance the health and well-being of communities across our state.
Sreelekha Prakash, MD, MPH
President, New Jersey Public Health Association
Rosen has dedicated nearly forty years to strengthening New Jersey’s public health workforce, advancing national training initiatives, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. As director of the Center for Public Health Workforce Development at the Rutgers School of Public Health since 1999, he has led programs training hundreds of thousands of public health practitioners and emergency responders in New Jersey and beyond.
Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, reflected on the significance of the recognition, stating: “These three faculty members embody the Rutgers School of Public Health’s commitment to our three pillars—scholarship, education, and community engagement. Their recognition by the New Jersey Public Health Association highlights our unwavering dedication to advancing the health and well-being of the people of New Jersey and affirms our standing as the state’s leading school of public health and one of the nation’s top 20 schools of public health.”
Founded in 1875, NJPHA is one of the oldest public health organizations in the United States and will be celebrating its 150th anniversary. Its mission is to strengthen, advocate, and advance public health in New Jersey. The association has worked in partnership with the Rutgers School of Public Health to move public health forward in the state.
When asked about the partnership with the Rutgers School of Public Health, Sreelekha Prakash, NJPHA President, said, “On behalf of the New Jersey Public Health Association, it gives me immense pride to announce this year’s award recipients. These honors celebrate the extraordinary commitment, innovation, and leadership that continue to advance the health and well-being of communities across our state. Their efforts remind us that progress in public health is built on the dedication of individuals and organizations who champion equity, resilience, and prevention.”
