Laptop computer displaying University of Michigan yellow "M" logo on screen with stack of colorful books, desk lamp, and steaming coffee mug with "go blue" text, representing online learning and study setup on blue background

By Wilfred Stephen Anfield, MPH '25, Online MPH

When I applied to the Online MPH program at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, I worried that being online might mean being on my own.

I also worried that I wasn’t good enough.

The uncertainty in my abilities and impostor syndrome didn’t just whisper. It made itself a little breakfast, pulled up a chair, and asked, “Are you sure you even belong at Michigan?”

But the community I’ve felt here is part of what helped me realize that I really do belong at Michigan Public Health.

As a student in the Population and Health Sciences online MPH program—which we affectionately call PopHealth—I’ve spent most of my grad school experience in the quiet spaces between caregiving and daily life. I’ve participated in my class from airport lobbies and waiting rooms, between moments of heartbreak and moments of hope. Through it all, I’ve felt a kind of welcome that transcends distance. It’s a reminder that beneath the syllabi and discussion boards, every experience, challenge, and lesson is helping me grow into someone who lives out the principles of public health.

To be honest, I didn’t expect that.

Even at a distance, there are numerous opportunities to connect to the community and make the most of your time as a student at Michigan Public Health if you know where to look.

Building community, one conversation at a time

Some of my favorite interactions have come from simple things, like messaging or posting GIFs in PopHealth’s Slack channel or attending a virtual office hour—even when I didn’t have a “big” question. I’ve found that showing up with my peers on Zoom, in inboxes, in small gestures, is part of what makes this place feel real.

One of the most unexpected joys I've experienced here has been serving as a Michigan Public Health Admissions Ambassador. For the folks who were campus tour guide in undergrad: Turns out, you can do that in grad school too, no backpack or walking shoes required. It’s not walking backwards across campus while pointing at brick buildings, but it is trying to make digital spaces feel welcoming, friendly and a little less intimidating.

I’ve spoken with prospective students from all over the world, and y’all… the excitement is contagious. On days when impostor syndrome tries to act up, talking with someone who’s dreaming of this path reminds me why I started mine. Conversations with prospective students are the perfect little interventions. A “statistically significant” dose of unexpected motivation and connection.

If you are a prospective student and you have any questions about the student experience in PopHealth, or are just looking to get a feel for what your peers might be like, I encourage you to reach out to an Admissions Ambassador and strike up a conversation.

Finding support and connection in PopHealth

PopHealth has also helped me stay connected to the real work of public health. The program’s flexibility made it possible for me to care for a loved one while continuing my education. Even more than that, the program gave me space to ask for help when I needed and to receive that help without shame. That kind of culture doesn’t just happen; it’s intentional. It shows up in the way instructors extend grace, the way classmates check in after hard weeks, and the way the community makes room for people doing the best they can while navigating life. In many ways, finding community means offering it as well—it’s a reciprocal relationship.

The truth is, many of us come to public health not just with curiosity, but with lived experience, with questions, with a desire to make people healthier and safer. I found that being open about my personal motivations with others—my “why”—brought me closer to peers who share similar goals and values

Participating with purpose

I want to say this plainly: You don’t have to do everything to be an active part of this community. You don’t need to join every group or RSVP to every event. You just have to be willing to connect. That might mean replying to a Slack thread. It might mean reaching out to a faculty member whose work moves you. It might mean introducing yourself in a breakout room, or sharing a resource with someone in your cohort.

You’ll find your rhythm. And when you do, you’ll realize that being an online student doesn’t mean learning in isolation; it means learning with intention.

So wherever you are—literally and figuratively—I hope you give yourself permission to show up fully: Ask the question. Send the email. Share your story with others. Take time for yourself. Take chances. Turn your camera on during Zoom sessions if you’re comfortable doing that.

You’ll read things that challenge you. You’ll write things you didn’t know you were capable of. You’ll learn how to think in systems, ask better questions, and hold complexity with care—like trying to take notes, remembering to unmute yourself, and eat dinner all at the same time.

Public health is people, population and community work—and connection is part of the curriculum here, whether you’re on campus or miles away.

Stephen Anfield
About the Author

Stephen Anfield is an alumnus (‘25) of the Online MPH program in Population and Health Sciences. He is a dual-degree student of public health and social work at the University of Michigan. Get to know more about Stephen here: https://wilfredstephenanfield.com/

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Making the most of Michigan Public Health as an Online MPH Student