Devon Payne-Sturges
TEACHING & MENTORING
I'm a professor within the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
My Approach
My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that the most effective learning happens through hands-on, collaborative problem-solving and academic study, enriched by opportunities for reflection. I strive to create an inclusive classroom environment where students are encouraged to take risks, voice their perspectives, and defend their ideas using scientific evidence. My approach is informed by my experiences as a public health scientist with the US EPA and as a practitioner with the Baltimore City Health Department.
Mentoring
My mentoring philosophy centers on recognizing and nurturing each mentee's unique interests and personalized goals.
The interdisciplinary nature of my research has allowed me to work with students across departments. I have mentored doctoral students in education and geography — and graduate research assistants pursuing degrees in journalism and anthropology.
27+
master's of public health capstone/thesis committees.
42%
of my publications have students as the primary author or co-author.
100%
of master's mentees are successfully employed in public health or pursuing doctoral studies.
Your class made me step out of my comfort zone when it came to participating in front of a large group of people, and I think that will be very beneficial to my future in Pharmacy.
This was the most rewarding class I took this semester - and possibly in my program!
The structure of this class enabled me to learn significantly more compared to some of my other classes.
Courses Taught
I have developed, redesigned, and taught required core courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. After six classes, my undergraduate core course at the University of Maryland, MIEH 300, quadrupled in size from 30 to nearly 120 students.
Department/Units:
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Contact:
Student Awards
I am committed to students being recognized for their achievements, and therefore, I regularly nominate and mentor students for awards.
UMD Library Award for Undergraduate Research
UMD Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars award
*I was honored as the student's faculty mentor
The Maryland State Fair Poster Award
American Public Health Association student poster award session for the Environment Section
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Equity Model of Practice Fellowship
