EVERYTHING
According to Today, the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2026 on June 12. The ceremony honored hundreds of students who have already secured prestigious fellowships and launched research projects aimed at improving community well-being. These graduates are entering a workforce where they will apply cross-disciplinary tools to shape real-world health initiatives.
Diverse academic pathways in public health
The graduating class comprised 410 students from five of the school’s six educational degree programs. The institution continues to expand its academic reach, having recently launched a new Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health with a concentration in health services research and implementation science. While this specific program will not produce graduates for several years, its inaugural students are already contributing to fields such as mental health and healthcare policy.
The degree programs represented at the commencement included:
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Science in Biostatistics
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics
- Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health
Record growth and community impact
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health stands out as one of the fastest-growing and most diverse majors at UC San Diego. During the 2025-26 academic year, the program saw a record enrollment of 948 students, resulting in 320 graduates. Notably, this major maintains the highest proportion of first-generation college students on campus.
Students have already demonstrated the practical application of their studies through various projects:
- Research into food insecurity led to tangible changes in how the university addresses campus food security.
- Studies conducted outside the campus explored barriers to eye care and provided support for survivors of domestic violence in Armenia.
- Graduates are being trained to carry an ethos of prevention, equity, evidence, and humility into diverse professional sectors.
Commencement speaker Michelle A. Williams, ScD, described the public health degree as pluripotent, comparing its versatility to a stem cell that can adapt to whatever needs the world requires. Dean Cheryl A.M. Anderson emphasized that while students possess unique gifts, their success relies on collective action and internal qualities like curiosity, compassion, and resilience. These graduates are now positioned to quietly shape institutions from the inside by prioritizing evidence-based health solutions.