During National Public Health Week, alumnus Roderick Harris (DrPH, BCHS ‘13) returned to the School of Public Health with a message shaped by both experience and passion: build a career grounded in purpose and help others do the same.
Drawing on his own path and work mentoring young professionals, Harris, health commissioner of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health in Cleveland, spoke about building a career in a changing field.
“People are scared right now,” he said, pointing to concerns about job stability and the future of public health. “But when I’m talking to students, I bring it back to purpose: ask yourself, ‘What motivates you, what drives you and what would you be doing if money wasn’t a factor?’”
For Harris, that answer has long centered on equity. Early in his career, he saw how underserved communities, often communities of color, were overlooked, shaping both his professional trajectory and his commitment to mentorship. That experience continues to inform how he supports students today.
“I want them to see what’s possible,” he said. “A lot of times, it’s just about exposure, knowing someone who has done it and understanding that there isn’t just one path to get there.”
He encourages students to think in terms of “career mapping,” identifying long-term goals, understanding the skills required, and building experience step by step. His own career, spanning government, academia and industry, reflects that approach.
“Every role I took, I was thinking about what skills I needed and how it would move me closer to where I wanted to be.”
At the same time, Harris stressed the importance of flexibility. Not every opportunity will align neatly with a plan, and unexpected turns can become defining moments.
“Context changes everything,” he said. “You have to be willing to adapt, to take opportunities as they come and trust that you’re gaining something from the experience, even if it’s not what you originally planned.”
Throughout the talk, Harris returned to the importance of relationships, both in mentoring others and in sustaining a meaningful career, and encouraged the attendees to move forward with purpose, even if the path is not fully clear.
In a week themed “Ready, Set, Action,” his message was ultimately about knowing what drives you, taking steps toward it, and remaining open to where the journey leads.
“Time will pass anyway,” Harris said. “Have something to show for it.”
-Clare Collins