The University of Kentucky College of Public Health's Dr. Sarah Cprek has been honored with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Early Career Teaching Excellence Award.
This national award recognizes junior faculty members who demonstrate outstanding teaching and mentoring in public health education. The award is given annually to a full-time faculty member from an ASPPH-member, Council on Education for Public Health-accredited school, or program of public health. Dr. Cprek is the first faculty member from a Southeastern Conference (SEC) institution to receive this distinction.
“This award is an incredible honor, and I am grateful to see undergraduate public health education at UK recognized at a national level,” said Dr. Cprek, who is the CPH Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Assistant Professor. “Personally, it is deeply meaningful to have my passion for teaching and student success acknowledged in this way. I put a lot of myself into my classes—from design to delivery—so seeing that resonate with students across the years is extremely rewarding.”
Dr. Cprek has taught more than 4,000 students and helped transform the college’s Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) program. She has introduced writing-intensive coursework, innovative teaching methods, and real-world applications to prepare students for careers in public health.
Her Writing Across the Curriculum and Writing in the Discipline initiatives have strengthened students' critical thinking and communication skills. Additionally, she designed CPH 444: Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Public Health Assessment, a course focused on information literacy and public speaking and co-teaches CPH 410: Epidemiology in the Web of Causation—People, Place, and Politics, which emphasizes data-informed decision-making and culminates in a job interview-style final exam.
“The most rewarding part has been seeing students grow—academically, professionally, and as public health leaders,” Dr. Cprek said. “Watching a student enter my classroom with uncertainty about their path, then later graduate and step into meaningful public health careers or advanced studies, is incredibly fulfilling.” While the award recognizes her individual achievements, Dr. Cprek also sees it as a reflection of the collaborative spirit at CPH.
“The faculty and staff in the College of Public Health are deeply committed to creating an engaging, innovative learning environment,” she said. “Our students bring passion, curiosity, and a drive to make an impact, and their enthusiasm for public health makes teaching truly rewarding.”
Dr. Cprek hopes this recognition elevates the visibility of undergraduate public health education and encourages more institutions to prioritize high-impact learning experiences.
“To my students, I hope this recognition shows that their education matters,” she said. “The effort they put into writing, analyzing data, and engaging in discussions is not just for a grade—it’s preparation for their careers in public health.”
Dr. Cprek also sees it as a call to action for educators.
“As faculty, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to train our students to be career ready in a way that is meaningful and transformative,” she said.
To learn more about the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, visit cph.uky.edu.
The University of Kentucky College of Public Health is undergoing a review by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for re-accreditation. Part of this process includes the invitation to provide third-party comments. Anyone, including students, alumni, employers, community partners, etc., is allowed to share relevant information about the college directly with CEPH. If you would like to provide input to CEPH to inform their review, send your comments to submissions@ceph.org by May 4th, 2025.
