The new SPHHS Hub will serve as a central space for learning and innovation that will benefit students and communities both inside and outside the commonwealth.

Over the past year, the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) community has eagerly watched the construction of the school’s new facility, adjacent to the Totman Building. Slated to open next spring, the SPHHS Hub will serve as a central home base for public health and health sciences students, faculty, staff, and community partners.

This marks the first time in SPHHS’s more than 50-year history that the school’s six departments will have a central space, which will have a direct impact on student learning. The Hub will allow students and faculty to engage inside and outside the classroom and will serve as a common area for shared learning experiences and course offerings, community building, and interdisciplinary opportunities.

Risa Silverman ’91 MPH, director of the Office for Public Health Practice and Outreach, has been involved with SPHHS as both a student and staff member. She notes that having the school spread out in various buildings around campus has always felt somewhat disjointed. She says that the new building is a welcome development.

“From the perspective of the entire school and especially the students, having the new building will feel we are more of a unified school,” Silverman says. “It will be a chance for people to feel what it’s like to be in SPHHS in a new way.”

Carissa Lange, a doctoral candidate in environmental health sciences and Dean’s Student Advisory Board co-chair, agrees.

"As a PhD student in SPHHS for the past four years, I’ve really felt the disconnect that comes from our departments being spread out across campus. I’m excited that the new SPHHS Hub will bring us all together in one central location, creating a true sense of community where students and faculty can connect, collaborate, and support each other,” she says. “I also think it will become a space where students genuinely enjoy spending time, whether that’s studying, meeting with peers, or just relaxing in between classes. I could not be more excited to experience the Hub during my final year in the program!"

Junior Stephanie Amanze, Dean’s Student Advisory Board undergraduate co-chair, is excited for the opportunities the Hub will offer.

“I’m excited to have a central location for all things SPHHS and feel more connected throughout the department. I’m pleased that my class and future classes in SPHHS will have a one-stop shop to attend classes, see advisors, study, and more. I think we will see a major increase in collaboration, community involvement, and productivity with this new addition!”

Junior Stephanie Amanze, Dean’s Student Advisory Board undergraduate co-chair

So, what will students and faculty find when the new building opens, and what are the new opportunities this facility will unlock? Preview the new building, which includes key features such as:

• Team-based learning (TBL) classrooms – TBL is an active learning strategy where students work in groups and teams to engage with course material through a structured sequence of individual preparation, group work, and application-focused exercises. These dedicated classrooms will support TBL, enabling instructors to guide students as they apply knowledge, analyze, and solve problems collaboratively.
• Seminar room and event space – The Hub’s large seminar room will allow SPHHS to invite public health leaders and practitioners for speaker series, panels, and conference sessions, and to host its community partners for direct collaboration. The school will also be able to hold community events in the seminar room and adjoining atrium space, allowing SPHHS students, faculty, and staff to network with the local community, foster connections, and establish new partnerships with nonprofits and private industry.
• Study rooms and collaborative spaces – Located throughout the office and classroom floors, the Hub’s mix of private study rooms and open spaces will provide accessible, functional spots for students to study, collaborate, and learn.
• Student services offices – The Hub’s student-centered design will bring student-facing services together with a one-stop student advising and career services location, embedding access to support they need for success in a building they visit every day.

The SPHHS students going in and out of the new hub will become the next generation of health professionals, serving communities in Massachusetts and around the world. The opportunities created by the Hub will enhance their experience and equip them to lead the way forward when they enter the field.

“It will be really uplifting for students, staff, and faculty to have this new building. It really shows the university cares about public health. SPHHS is committed to building links between students, faculty, and staff and the greater community. It will be great to have a space of our own to invite people in.”

Risa Silverman ’91 MPH, director of the Office for Public Health Practice and Outreach

SPHHS Dean Anna Maria Siega-Riz echoes the enthusiasm expressed by students and faculty, noting the significance of this moment for SPHHS.

“This incredible investment in SPHHS speaks volumes about how much our commonwealth and UMass value public health and health sciences. It’s deeply meaningful to be part of this historic moment,” she says. “To help honor that legacy, I’ve chosen to name one of the conference rooms—and I invite our alumni, faculty, and friends to join me in shaping the future and leaving a lasting imprint on this extraordinary new home.”

Support the School of Public Health and Health Sciences with a gift to the Dean’s Priorities Fund, SPHHS Interdisciplinary Initiatives and Partnerships, or SPHHS Scholarships.