Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) President Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail joined Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) and university officials to announce $490,000 in federal funding for the Public Health Education Center (PHEC), formerly known as the Tuttle Public Health Center. Secured by Congresswoman Ross in the government funding package, the funding will help open the Public Health Education Center.

“We know there are opportunities to change communities in this zip code. There are opportunities to transform lives. There are opportunities to do things we had not thought about before,” said SAU President Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail. “With the support of Congresswoman Ross, this grant makes that vision possible with public health, health disparities, and preventive health, which are the kinds of things we will be able to do with our public education health center.”

“On behalf of our board of trustees at Saint Augustine’s University, our fearless leader, Dr. McPhail, and her staff, we appreciate the continued support and uplift that Congresswoman Ross and Congressman Nickel continues to provide for this university and our community,” said SAU alumnus and board of trustee Mr. Joseph Lynn, ’79. “I know that healthcare is very near and dear to Dr. McPhail’s heart, and I wish to thank our congressional leaders for the tremendous gift they have pushed and worked for to support SAU.”

The Public Health Education Center will support health and wellness education, student research regarding the long-term effects of COVID-19, and related programs that will benefit Saint Augustine’s students and the surrounding community. Funding will also support faculty, establish smart classrooms for students, and purchase research and lab equipment.

“Saint Augustine’s University is a beacon of progress and enlightenment in Wake County and a testament to the power of education to transform lives and entire communities. The funding we’re celebrating today is just the latest initiative in Saint Augustine’s long history of advancing quality education for all,” said Congresswoman Deborah Ross. “Nearly a year ago, I requested funding for 15 community projects that were developed by the people of Wake County, for the people of Wake County. At the end of 2022, President Biden signed funding for these projects into law, delivering a historic $26 million to our community. Today, I am so excited to highlight just one of these incredible projects, nearly $500,000 to help open Saint Augustine’s Public Health Education Center.”

“I’m excited to be here to recognize and celebrate the work done by Congressman Ross and her team to secure this critical funding for Saint Augustine’s University. The funding will be critical to help bring the new public health education center online for students, faculty, and the Saint Augustine’s University community,” said Congressman Wiley Nickel (NC-13). “This new public health education center will extend to the greater Raleigh areas and serve and benefit the people of Wake County. In addition, this funding will support students and faculty at Saint Augustine’s in researching COVID-19 and training North Carolina’s next generation of health professionals.”

In addition, the PHEC will support health and wellness education, student research regarding the long-term effects of COVID-19, and related programs that will benefit SAU students and the surrounding community. Funding will be used to support faculty, establish smart classrooms for students, and purchase research and lab equipment.

“I wish to thank Congresswoman Ross for spearheading this effort regarding the Omnibus funding for the Public Health Education Center,” said Dr. Michael Brown, Associate Vice President for Health Initiatives and Chair of SAU’s Department of Public Health. “These funds will be instrumental in increasing our capacity for public health at the university, on education and providing next generation of public health students equipped with knowledge.”

On behalf of university students and the public health program, I would like to say thank you for investing in us and helping us boost our public health program so that we can better serve the SAU community and oakwood community by making healthcare more equitable by reducing healthcare disparities and increasing health literacy in our community,” said SAU Student Government Association President Zachary Barco. “As public health students, the PHEC will give us a space to practice our craft and help create more black and brown healthcare professionals to put them out in the world to serve North Carolina and the United States.”