Despite days filled with teaching, research and committee service, and evenings and weekends running a farm, Emily Hovis always makes time for her students. She meets with each of her many mentees weekly, and has even been known to bring them her own farm-raised pork and eggs when they are having a bad week.
“Emily has been the most incredible mentor I could’ve asked for and completely shaped my graduate school experience,” said Mariah Rubin, a recent MPH graduate in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) who was advised by Hovis. “She has gone above and beyond to teach me, support me and make sure that I will graduate without any debt.”
Hovis, an associate teaching professor in DEOHS, was presented with the Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award at this year’s DEOHS Graduation and End of Year Celebration by her mentees Rubin and MS student Gracie Hively. It’s an honor bestowed each year by the DEOHS Student Advisory Committee to a member of DEOHS who has shown particular dedication to mentorship.
Connecting students with real-world opportunities
As an expert in food security and food safety who previously worked as a food regulator for the Washington State Department of Health, Hovis integrates her students into a variety of collaborative projects so that they can make real-world impact.
Hovis suggested that Rubin focus her thesis on a partnership with the Department of Ecology: the result is the Washington State Food Rescue Map, which shows the locations of hunger relief organizations and food donors around the state. In the process, Rubin went from being a newbie at mapping and geographic information systems to considering them some of her most valuable skills.
“Now I will have a job on the other end where I will get to implement the findings and recommendations in my thesis,” Rubin said. “This never would have happened without Emily.”
Hovis also connected MPH student Hannah McKinley with the project that became her practicum: developing a 50-state summary of food donation and food salvage policies with the Association of Food & Drug Officials.
“She has supported me as I have navigated the practicum experience, introducing me to an amazing project and organization,” McKinley said. “Beyond that, Emily is truly just the kindest human being ever.”
When MS student Natalia Stamatatos was trying to decide on her thesis topic, Hovis took 45 minutes after a class ending at 5:30 p.m. to describe a project she was working on and invite Stamatatos to collaborate on it.
“Emily has a genuine passion for teaching, her research, and sharing knowledge which motivates and inspires me daily,” Stamatatos said.
Empowering future public health experts
Hovis excels in leading classes, and also encourages her students to flex their own instructional chops. As a teaching assistant for Hovis for three quarters, Rubin was given room to explore teaching and give presentations in class.
“I know I never would’ve considered this without seeing how impactful her teaching is for each of her students,” Rubin said.
Hovis’s approach of empowering her students while setting an outstanding example extends to leadership as well.
As Hively put it: “Her mentorship has not only strengthened my academic and professional development, but also shown me the kind of supportive leader I hope to become."
