We See the Future in You,
For the Future of Our Health
Public health at NSU exists to break systemic barriers that prohibit equal access to good health. Our vision is to create lasting, tranformational change that brightens the future health of Hampton Roads - and the roads beyond.
The Spotlight: MPH PRogram
NSU provides the Health Equity concentration of the joint MPH Program included in the Joint School of Public Health at ODU and NSU. Our program provides fundamental public health knowledge and skills with our signature grounding in the intersection between education and action.
Scholarships
Apply before February 1, 2026 to be fully considered for in-state tuition scholarships. For more information about opportunities, contact the program at mph-program@nsu.edu.
Featured Faculty: Maurica Bynum, DrPH, MPH
Showcased by the Joint School of Public Health
For Bynum, public health isn’t just a career, it’s a calling that impacts every aspect of life, and she’s excited to share that knowledge with her students.
“From the water you drink in the morning to the food you eat at lunch, public health is everywhere,” she said. “It’s so important.”
from "A Lifelong Love of Public Health Leads to Professorship"
Recipient of the 2025 Dr. Bailus Walker Jr Diversity and Inclusion Award from the National Environmental Health Association.
Maurica Bynum, DrPH, MPH, [was] named the 2025 recipient of this award, which honors those who work to foster a more diverse, inclusive and culturally competent profession. Through her leadership and advocacy, Bynum is helping to create a more meaningful change and equity in the future of environmental health.
From the NEHA announcement
The Foundation
Public health initiatives at Norfolk State University are inspired by the same vision that led to its creation during the Great Depression. The faculty, staff and students at NSU and our community and other partners are focused on well-being and justice with the end goal of creating the freedom to thrive for all people and communities in the Hampton Roads region. And, not just for now…across generations.
Public health initiatives at NSU are not new. Faculty, staff and students in nursing and allied health, social work, and education and sociology – to name a few areas - are actively engaged in promoting physical activity, combating systematic racism, improving access to health care services, mental health, nutritious and affordable food and more. What is new is our level of commitment and focus. We are dedicated to expanding and enhancing our approaches and impact on our community through public health, including a focus on historical context, current conditions and action.
[This presentation uses language and frameworks from the Thriving Together movement described at THRIVE.us. Video: Thriving Together: A Springboard for Equitable Recovery & Resilience in Communities Across America