For hundreds of students on campus who struggle with mental health or are unsure about the details and functions of their bodies, the Eastern Michigan University's Public Health Fair offered some answers.
Held in the Student Center ballroom Thursday, April 10, 2025, the health fair was created as a joint project of Eta Sigma Gamma, the university's Public Health Program and the College of Health and Human Services. The fair's focus was on discovery and education regarding local public health services that are available for students. The event coincides with the National and Michigan Public Health Week, and was hosted by Sofia Vargas and Nathaniel King, who are both members of Eta Sigma Gamma. Organizers said they plan to host the event again in 2025.
Vargas and King said the event was two years in the making, and they became involved after taking on an internship with the EMU Office of Health Promotion.
“It was mentioned by one of our professors, about how there were some of her students who really wanted to make this happen, but couldn’t," King said. “And since we were interns there, we just volunteered to take over the event.”
The professor who discussed the event at the beginning of the year was Megan Sterling, and associate professor who serves as the director and coordinator for the public health program, and as the faculty advisor for Eta Sigma Gamma at EMU. Eta Sigma Gamma is a national health education honorary society.
“The students who graduated last year wanted to do this, but they couldn’t. So, they wanted a proposal that others could pick up and continue where they left off,” Sterling said.
Those students were Mekayla Koger and Kora Kolodski, both part of the campus public health program.
Vargas and King, also public health majors, said they wanted to support the community and help those in need by organizing this event. Vargas said it is meant to bring together public health organizations from around Washtenaw County and students who can learn about those organizations and even schedule appointments.
“We just want people to open up to the community, and to realize how many resources are available to them and that they can take advantage of,” Vargas said.
King said the goal is to bring it all back to the community.
“I want people to be familiar with these services, because I think that public health has become very politicized," King said. "We want to bring back what it really is."
With twenty-eight health groups and organizations at the fair, there were many opportunities for curious students to learn more about a variety of health topics, including safe sex practices, dietary recommendations, and mental health services. Both the EMU Police Department and the Ypsilanti Fire Department made appearances at the fair as well.
Senior student Natalie Zimmer, who is majoring in sociology and minoring in public health, said she learned a lot at the event.
“I thought it was very educational and eye-opening,” Zimmer said. “There were a lot of different organizations who had information on a bunch of different subjects and access to resources, like STD testing and mental health support.”
Zimmer said she wants to see next year’s public health fair contain booths that include information on women’s reproduction.
For more information on the exhibitors and sponsors who made an appearance, scan the QR code at the bottom of this article or visit the EMU Public Health Education website to find out more about the program.
