June 2, 2025
Merry Grande, Minnesota Public Health Association
(612) 963-3243
info@mpha.net
The Minnesota Public Health Association Announces 2025 MPHA Award Recipients
Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA) presented the 2025 MPHA Awards during the association’s Annual Business Meeting on June 2, 2025. The MPHA awards are presented each year to leaders across Minnesota who are passionate advocates for public health and greater health equity.
The Albert Justus Chesley Award, honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to MPHA, was presented to Catherine Harrison, RN, MPH. Catherine has been a member of MPHA since 2018 when she joined the Health Equity Committee. She brought to MPHA her commitment to the values and work of health equity and social justice. As Health and Democracy expanded its work across more states in the US, MPHA needed someone to step forward as a formal leader for the continuation of this advocacy. Catherine took on that role, continually demonstrating her commitment to the work of the coalition, both in leading by example and by engaging all of the coalition members in the planning. She is often the spokesperson for MPHA by connecting with other democracy focused organizations in Minnesota. She has also represented MPHA at the Minnesota Legislature, testifying on bills introduced to expand voting opportunities for all eligible residents, and during a workshop presentation at the 2024 APHA Conference.
The B. Robert Lewis Award, which honors an elected official who has championed public health, was presented to Commissioner Angela Conley, BSW, MPA. This award recognizes Commissioner Conley’s visionary leadership and unwavering advocacy for public health. The Commissioner drives for meaningful change to reduce racial and health disparities that create lasting impacts for communities. She serves as Chair of the Hennepin County Health Committee and is a member of State Community Health Services Advisory Committee (SCHSAC). She has championed the transformative Hennepin County Women’s Heart Health Initiative to address Black/African American and Indigenous women leading the county to invest 2 million over 2 years to this effort.
Jordan Niles, MPH received the Dr. Harold 'Hal' Leppink Scholarship, awarded to an early career professional working for Local Public Health located in Greater Minnesota. Jordan is an exceptional new public health leader whose dedication, innovation, and commitment to improving community health in Minnesota have already made her an integral member of the public health workforce. After earning her Master of Public Health degree from Boston University School of Public Health, Jordan accepted a role with Faribault and Martin Counties Human Services local public health agency in 2024. She brought with her a vision to strengthen the health and well-being of small rural communities. In her role as a Public Health Planner, she has played a transformative role in developing and expanding the Community Health Coalition, Stronger Together. Under her leadership, the coalition has successfully advanced the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), focusing on key health priorities such as adverse childhood experiences, mental health, substance use, chronic disease prevention, and equitable access to health and dental care.
Ruth Lynfield, MD received The Harvey G. Rogers Environmental Health Leadership Award, honoring “an individual who through years of dedication, distinguished service and technical contribution has promoted the public's health through preservation of the environment”. Dr. Ruth Lynfield is currently the medical director at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) as well as an Adjunct Professor in Medicine and in Epidemiology at the University of Minnesota. She has been with MDH for the past 28 years and in those years of service she has developed surveillance systems, investigated outbreaks, conducted research on emerging infectious diseases, and helped develop public health policy at both state-wide and national levels. Technically she is a Pediatric Infectious Disease physician, but her work extends far beyond her medical degree. Dr. Lynfield is a quiet giant at MDH and her work continues to impact environmental health and Minnesota’s environment. Some researchers are narrowly focused on a specific problem or topic but Dr. Lynfield tackles problems using a multi-disciplinary approach based on data and scientific expertise. She has worked on a wide array of issues affecting human health and is adept at weaving together scientific research and guidance, always including careful consideration of the environment. This research is used to provide recommendations for guidance and/or policies to protect the public. Examples of Dr. Lynfield’s work that has required close consideration of the environment and environmental factors include:
- Investigation of E-cigarettes, Vaping, and Product Use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI);
- Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a variety of settings/ environments;
- Lung disease in sugar beet processing workers; and
- Neuropathy among swine abattoirs.
The Laura Waterman Wittstock Racial Justice & Health Equity Award winner was Clarence Jones, MA, CPH, CHW, CPE. For over 30 years, Clarence Jones has been committed to improving health equity for black, people of color, and American Indian communities. Specifically, Clarence has been very clear about educating people on the disparities black individuals face in America and in the state of Minnesota. He has created a network of over 30 entities that partner to eliminate disparities in community and public health. Clarence's work and collaboration have partnered to produce books, published research, collegiate courses, community gatherings, institutional changes, as well as neighborhood preventative health clinics. These things happen because Clarence Jones is a champion. Clarence has inspired countless others leaders to follow his style of partnership, resulting in lasting changes that interrupt and improve systems. Clarence is currently the Executive Director of the HueMan Partnership.
The Paul and Sheila Wellstone Public Health Achievement Award was presented to Sue Abderholden, MPH. After nearly a quarter century of visionary leadership, Sue Abderholden will be retiring as Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota in October, 2025. Abderholden has led NAMI Minnesota through an extraordinary period of growth and impact. When she began in October 2001, the organization had two and a half staff members and a modest $160,000 budget. Under her leadership, NAMI Minnesota has grown into a $3 million organization with a staff of 37 and is recognized as one of the most effective and respected mental health advocacy organizations in the nation. Throughout her tenure, Abderholden has been a driving force behind major legislative reforms that transformed Minnesota’s mental health system. Her advocacy helped pass more than two dozen landmark laws that reshaped education, healthcare, housing, and criminal justice to better serve people living with mental illnesses. Among her accomplishments, Abderholden championed laws requiring mental health training for teachers, secured mental health screenings for individuals entering jails, helped reform Minnesota’s commitment laws to promote voluntary engagement in treatment, expanded crisis and early intervention services, expanded the diversity of the workforce, strengthened mental health parity protections, and fought to restrict the use of solitary confinement for individuals with mental illnesses in prisons. Aberholden’s work has had a tremendous impact on both the careers of public health professionals and in terms of creative and courageous pioneering efforts.
Lee Lor, MPH and Gao Sheng Yang, MPH were honored as the co-recipients of this year’s Student Achievement Award. MPHA is pleased to honor these two students who have played instrumental roles in graduate school projects at St. Catherine University addressing gaps in public health work in the Hmong culture. Their collective project was titled “Experiences with Nutrition, Marriage, and Pregnancy: A Qualitative Analysis of Women’s Health in Rural Northern Thailand”. They conducted qualitative community engaged research for their practicum. Lee and Gao Sheng secured GHR Foundation Traineeship grants to translate, transcribe, and analyze their data in the Fall after they returned from Thailand, and write qualitative research papers for their Spring 2025 capstones. These experiences have allowed Lor and Gao Sheng to blossom as community engaged and health equity and social justice centered researchers. They worked collaboratively at all the stages of the work, and they wrote distinct capstones projects. They have both distinguished themselves in their school’s programs for their academic excellence, their commitment to the school community, and their outstanding work in every arena they show up in
Azrin Awal was awarded a
Certificate of Appreciation and special recognition from MPHA for their outstanding contributions to the MPHA 2025 Annual Conference Planning Committee and their broader public health leadership in Greater Minnesota. Azrin exemplifies the power of community-centered leadership. As a member of the Duluth City Council, they have championed equity, youth engagement, and inclusive policymaking — all while navigating the unique public health challenges that communities in Greater Minnesota face, from limited access to services to the need for stronger local infrastructure and diverse representation. Their work reminds us that true public health leadership doesn’t just come from institutions — it’s built through relationships, trust, and a deep connection to place. Azrin’s leadership on the conference committee helped bring forward local voices, priorities, and partnerships that made this gathering more relevant, more inclusive, and more grounded in community. They helped shape key programming — including the Healthy Minnesota advocacy workshop — and facilitated connections with local leaders that deepened MPHA’s conversations and shared purpose. Azrin exemplifies strong leadership, partnership, and an unwavering commitment to equity in their work at the intersection of public health, education, policy, and social justice.
The awards were presented at MPHA’s Annual Business Meeting, held virtually on June 2, 2025. All are welcome to learn more about MPHA’s awards and the nomination requirements at mpha.net.
###
About the Minnesota Public Health Association
The Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA) represents over 350 public health professionals across the state of Minnesota who champion the health of our people and communities. The mission of the MPHA is to create a healthier Minnesota through effective public health practice and engaged citizens. For more information, visit www.mpha.net, or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.