Alumni Centennial Practicum Stipend Fund
The Alumni Centennial Practicum Stipend Fund supports students who would like to pursue an Applied Practicum Experience (APEx) with a community-based organization focused on public service. Often, students cannot afford to pursue these types of experiences because they are unpaid, and the organizations who would benefit from their work do not have the resources to hire them. To bridge this gap, the Columbia Mailman Alumni Board has created the Alumni Centennial Practicum Stipend Fund and set a five-year goal to build an alumni-driven endowment of $500,000, supporting five or more students with stipends each year in perpetuity.
Columbia Giving Day: Supporting Student Practicum Experiences
Columbia Giving Day is a day we rally alumni and friends around the world to build momentum in support of the School’s vision of a healthy just world—and your generosity is crucial in building this momentum. If you make a gift to the Alumni Centennial Practicum Stipend Fund today, it will be counted toward our Columbia Giving Day fundraising efforts. Every Giving Day gift demonstrates a commitment to Columbia Mailman's community, inviting others to give and show their commitment as well.
This Giving Day only, every dollar given within the first $25,000 will triple in impact. That means every dollar you give could be matched two-to-one, having three times the impact on generations of students’ lives, careers, and futures. We are grateful to Thomas Campbell Jackson MPH ’98 for generously sponsoring this match, and hope you will join him in support of the School. Don't miss out on this opportunity to amplify the impact of your donation—make your gift today!
To ensure timely processing of your gift match, please make sure to type "Columbia Giving Day" in the "Special Instructions" field when you enter your payment information.
These stipends will allow organizations focused on public service within the five boroughs to partner with students that they would not otherwise be able to compensate. Students who pursue an APEx with a community-based organization are proven more likely to pursue public service careers themselves—so as the Alumni Centennial Practicum Stipend Fund benefits students and community-based organizations today, it also builds a corps of service-oriented leaders whose work will improve public health for generations to come.
Students who have received financial support for their APEx have worked with community-based organizations such as:
- H.E.A.L.T.H. for Youths (H4Y)
- Undocumented Women’s Fund
- Muslim Sisters of Staten Island
- MENTOR New York
- Community League of the Heights (CLOTH)
Your impact
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The financial support I received made it possible for me to accept an unpaid APEx at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It was a rich learning experience that allowed me to build upon my previous experience to expand my understanding of infectious disease emergency response. Ned Latham, MPH ’23 |
My practicum with the Undocumented Women’s Fund allowed me to put my coursework into action to help respond to the needs of marginalized women in New York City. I chose this experience because it was a small grassroots organization, and I’m grateful I could work through this practicum with financial support. Brittany Markarian, MPH ’23 |
Join us
With your support, we can ensure that Columbia Mailman students have access to vital learning experiences that will pave the way for them to pursue the work that most aligns with their passions. The Alumni Centennial Practicum Stipend Fund will help to deepen authentic, mutually beneficial partnerships within the community to advance health equity.
FAQ
What is an endowment?
An endowment is an invested fund that provides support for a cause in perpetuity. A portion of the fund is made available annually; the rest is retained within the investment portfolio so it can continue to grow.
How are the students chosen?
Columbia Mailman’s Office of Field Practice will review the applications of all students who need additional funds while they work to complete their practicum. The office will assess which applications match the goals of the Alumni Centennial Practicum Stipend Fund based on both need and internship type.
Are there any restrictions around who is awarded this fund?
Practicum participants who will be interning in the nonprofit or public service sector will be eligible to receive a stipend from this fund.
What is APEx?
The Columbia Mailman Applied Practicum Experience (APEx) provides students the opportunity to work alongside public health professionals through a three to six month supervised, planned practice-based experience, like an internship. Through the required APEx, students gain first-hand experience with the day-to-day realities of the field and apply what they have learned in the classroom to advance public health in the local community.
Give now or discuss your gift today!
It's easy to make a gift to the Alumni Centennial Practicum Fund online. If you'd like to make an offline gift, have any questions, or you'd like to discuss a leadership gift with a member of our Development and Alumni Relations Team, please contact:
Katie Mayfield
Senior Director of Development
km4024@cumc.columbia.edu
+1 732-374-6016 (call or text)