In the School of Public Health (SOPH), we offer a range of advising to help you discover how to use your unique passions and talents to make a difference in your community and in the world.
Academic Advising
Academic Advising is an essential resource for planning your degree program. As soon as you begin considering a major or minor in public health, schedule an appointment with one of our academic advisors to learn more about what we offer. Our academic advisors can explain our required and elective courses, opportunities outside the classroom to increase your career readiness, and the important role of our Public Health Capstone course. They can also help you balance your public health coursework with another major or minor or any pre-health coursework you plan to take.
Throughout your time in SOPH you are encouraged to meet with your academic advisor at least once every semester to ensure that you are on track to graduate as planned. You should also meet with them any time you have questions or concerns you’d like help with. Our academic advisors are experts in helping students meet their academic goals — they can link you to all the resources necessary to be successful at UAB and beyond.
Michelle Henry
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(205) 934-4549
Advises students with last names A-L
I began my journey at UAB in 2005. I've worked in several different areas but have spent the majority of my time in the School of Public Health. I am a two-time UAB graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in social psychology and a minor in communication management and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. I am a National Board Certified Counselor. What I love most about being an academic advisor is getting to know my students and watching them grow and change as I help them navigate UAB and progress towards their degree and ultimately their career. When I am not on campus you can most likely find me on a trail in the woods in my Jeep. I enjoy exploring new places, and just finding joy in the journey, no matter where it takes me.
Nicole Gravitt
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(205) 934-7759
Advises students with last names M-Z
I started my professional journey at UAB in 2007 and have worked in various areas of enrollment management and academic affairs on campus. I am a two-time UAB graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and master’s degree in educational leadership. I began my work in the School of Public Health in 2012 as the undergraduate program manager and advisor. My goal in academic advising is to help students understand the progress towards their academic goals and what it will take for them to get there, and fostering personal reflection with the end goal in mind. In my time away from campus I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and exploring new restaurants.
Next Steps Advising
Next Steps Advising was developed to help students answer the question "What’s next after my Public Health degree?"
Whether you’re exploring career options, preparing for graduate or professional school, or considering one of our Accelerated Learning Opportunities, Next Steps Advising can help you identify and apply for your next opportunity. Specialized assistance is provided in job search strategies, selecting appropriate graduate/professional programs, and preparing successful applications. Appointments can be made through the Appointment Manager in BlazerNet.
Dr. Erika (Ela) Austin
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(205) 975-9272
I first came to UAB in 2006 as a faculty member in the Department of Sociology. After a few years I realized that I wanted to work more directly with communities experiencing health disparities, so I went to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs on studies addressing Veteran homelessness. During that time I also earned my MPH degree online, and was excited to return to UAB to teach in the new undergraduate public health program in 2015. As Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, part of my job is to make sure that our undergraduate program prepares students for employment or additional schooling after graduation. I also advise students who are considering graduate school — as someone who applied to graduate school multiple times in various fields AND has served on Graduate Admissions Committees for years, I know all the tricks for finding and getting accepted to the perfect program!
