Along with the immense challenges that the past year has brought, policy leaders have increasingly recognized the importance of preventive health measures. As these changes play out in our communities, the demand for well-trained public health professionals is growing. The Master’s in Public Health (MPH) program at UNC prepares students to work with diverse populations, implement and evaluate programs that prevent cancer, obesity, HIV/AIDs, diabetes and help individuals develop healthy lifestyles both locally and globally.  

The Parkos-Cooke-Zavela Scholarship was created in honor of William “Bill” Parkos to provide scholarships for students in the Master of Public Health program at UNC. Bill began teaching at UNC in 1970 and played an integral role building the health education and environmental health programs before retiring in 1998 as professor emeritus. 

The need for scholarship support expertise in public health has never been more important. With that in mind, former colleagues Dr. Bryan Cooke and Dr. Kathy Zavela Tyson came together in 2021 to endow the scholarship so that future MPH students will continue to have access to scholarship support for years to come.  

Your gift to the Parkos-Cooke-Zavela Scholarship for public health will directly support UNC students in their pursuit of being leaders and advocates for health and wellness in their communities and beyond. Your gift – of any amount – makes an enormous difference for our students.