John Nonnamaker, PhD (he/him/his)
Director of Career Services
(504) 988-9872
jnonnama@tulane.edu
John works with graduate public health students and alumni with a particular focus on masters and doctoral students. John received his bachelors and masters degrees from Michigan State University and his PhD from Fordham University. As someone who has completed the doctoral journey, John has a particular interest in assisting doctoral students in navigating their career development and the many career paths that are open to them. John serves on several school wide committees, including the Outreach to Special Student Populations Committee.
Career Advisor for: Doctoral Students (All PhD and DRPH), Masters Students (Online MPH in Community Health Sciences), Alumni
Best Career Advice: Network, Network, Network. One of the best ways to assess the culture of a potential employer is to speak with alums who are working there. Is this an environment in which you will thrive, contribute, and feel valued? You can gain deeper insight into the core values of an organization, such as their commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. You will also learn about career paths and opportunities for advancement within an organization.
Favorite NOLA Restaurant(s): N7 and Vincents
Abby Lukens, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)
Assistant Director of Career Services
(504) 988-7121
alukens@tulane.edu
Abby works with both undergraduate and graduate public health students to offer career advising, instructional workshops, and employer information sessions. She is open to having difficult conversations around the unique transition from school to work and identity as it relates to career decisions. She is a graduate of Rhodes College and the University of New Orleans. She is a current doctoral student, with research interests in the relationship between gender roles and career planning in the transition out of college.
Career Advisor for: Undergraduate Students (All BSPH), Masters Students (Health Policy and Management, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, International Health and Sustainable Development, Biostatistics, Tropical Medicine, and Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences excluding the Online MPH in Community Health Sciences)
Best Career Advice: Negotiate salary upon receiving a job offer but before accepting a position. In the U.S., there are staggering disparities in pay for women, and even deeper disparities for Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic, and Multiracial workers Pay disparities additionally exist for LGBTQ+ workers. Do your salary research and know your worth when it comes time to negotiate. While this can seem scary, negotiating for a small amount now will have long-term effects on your income across the span of your life.
The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap
The Wage Gap Among LGBTQ+ Workers in the United States
Favorite NOLA Restaurant: Blue Oak BBQ
Ortecia Guity
Graduate Assistant for Career Services
As a Graduate Assistant for Career Services, Ortecia assists in posting relevant public health jobs and internships to Handshake. She also creates and schedules social media content on Instagram, along with promotional flyers. She is responsible for communicating regularly with students about upcoming jobs, internships, and events both through social media and through targeted emails. Ortecia also serves as a Peer Resume advisor, offering one on one resume reviews for her fellow students. Ortecia is a second year residential Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences student. Prior to joining Tulane, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Clark Atlanta University. Ortecia is in her second year working with SPHTM Career Services, and looks forward to adding new professional skills to her repertoire.
Favorite NOLA Restaurant: New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Co.
Alyssa Hiarker
Graduate Assistant for Career Services
As a Graduate Assistant for Career Services, Alyssa gathers, cleans, and analyzes first destination data to produce the yearly SPHTM Graduate Outcome Reports. In addition, Alyssa is working on an equity initiative to analyze first destination data aggregated by gender identity, race, ethnicity, first generation status, and citizenship status. The results of this project will identify career trends and allow Career Services to more equitably offer services to students. Alyssa is a second year online Master of Public Health student in Community Health Sciences student. Prior to joining Tulane, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Studies and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Texas Austin. Alyssa is in her second year working with SPHTM Career Services and is excited to spend another year offering support to students in anyway she can!
Favorite NOLA Restaurant: Galliano
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