MILESTONE
Advancing Health Equity & Social Justice
The School of Public Health is committed to advancing health equity and social justice by ensuring that students from backgrounds traditionally underserved in public health have the support, opportunities, and resources needed to successfully navigate their academic and professional careers.
The Milestone program provides undergraduate public health students from traditionally underserved backgrounds with 1:1 support, workshops, and tools to kickstart their career and academic goals.
Why Become A Milestone Scholar?
1:1 success coaching to support:
Academic and professional goal development and accountability
- Identify individualized academic and professional goals
- Create action plans to reach those goals
- Have built in accountability and support each step of the way!
Connections to OHSU-PSU resources, networks, internships, and research
- Build connections with OHSU-PSU School of Public Health student community
- Learn of tailored OHSU-PSU research, clinical, internship, or job opportunities relative to your goals
- Build your network with OHSU-PSU faculty, staff, and alumni!
Finding academic and professional opportunities and preparing application materials
- Learn skills to navigate career and academic exploration and application
- Participate in workshops and networking events to practice what you’ve learned
- Access Milestone Canvas site for recordings of workshops, resources for continued education applications, resumes, scholarships and more!
Eligibility Requirements
- Have declared Public Health Studies as an undergraduate major
- Has above 90 credits or junior/senior status by Fall 2025
- Have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher (choose between transfer, cumulative, or major GPA)
- Enrolled at full-time
- Meets 2 out of 3 of the following criteria:
- Self-identify as a member of a racial or ethnic group that is underrepresented in health professions in Oregon
- First-generation college student (an individual whose parents or guardians did not complete a baccalaureate degree)
- From a rural or frontier environment (a town of less than or equal to 40,000 population and at least 10 miles from a community of that size or larger)
- U.S. residency and citizenship is NOT a requirement for participation in Milestone. International and DACA students are encouraged to apply
APPLY TO MILESTONE!
Application Deadline September 5th, 2025
Application Details – Complete the Google Form application
2 Sections; First, 20 questions collecting basic information. Second, two short essays (250 words max each).
Estimated Time to Complete: ~20-30 minutes.
NOTE: Your application will not be processed until you click ‘SUBMIT’. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Noni Villalobos – nvilla3@pdx.edu
The biggest impact Milestone has had on me this academic year was having a student success coach that felt like they truly wanted me to succeed! This helped create a sense of belonging at the SPH and that is huge for me at any institution I attend. I have greatly appreciated the support in helping me navigate problems outside of the realm of academics and in writing internship applications.
, Public Health: Indigenous Health Concentration - Graduating Winter 2027
I enjoyed the 1:1 meetings I was able to have since I had so many questions about school and my career and what I should do next. It eased my thoughts of thinking I was lost or stuck and only made me realize that there is so much PSU provided and milestone was where I was finding them all in one place.
, Public Health Studies: Pre-Clinical - Graduating Fall 2025Milestone’s 1:1 meetings were incredibly helpful for me when it came to internship/job application strategies and strategies for prioritizing self-care!
, Public Health: Health Services Administration - Graduating June 2026The research fair “outing” offered by Milestone provided awareness of PSU resources I wouldn’t have otherwise known about, such as FORWARD and URISE. I have had a great experience in Milestone and would recommend it.
, Public Health: Pre-clinical - Graduating 2026The 1:1 meetings have been SUPER helpful, I was able to get directed to sources and services immediately. Overall, I just felt heard and understood during my 1:1. I always look forward to them.
, Public Heath : Health Services Administration - Spring 2026
In-Program Requirements
All Milestone scholars are required to:
Each term:
- Meet with Student Success Coach once per term
- Be a full-time student with a minimum of 12 credit hours each quarter. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis
- To be eligible for the Next Step Fund – Attend at least two Student Success Center workshops. Recordings will be available on Canvas if not able to attend in person.
Each academic year:
- Participate in Milestone Orientation in Fall
- If applicable, seek out and apply to at least 3 scholarships per academic year
- Meet with Pathway Advisor or (special programs advisor – ex: TRIO/IGNITE/MRS/Honors advisor) once a year
- Attend either a PSU Career Center workshop, or meet with a PSU Career Center staff member once a year
Selection Process: Space is limited to 50 students this academic year.
Noni Villalobos
SPH Student Success Coach
Noni serves as the Student Success Coach for the School of Public Health. As a student advocate, they have experience in case management, data assessment, academic advising, and coaching at the community college, four-year, and graduate school level.
Her work focuses on supporting holistic professional and personal development for students.
For questions email nvilla3@pdx.edu
Vanport Building, Room 626E
Meet with Student Success Coach – for Milestone scholars only
- Schedule an in-person meeting – https://nvilla3-inperson.youcanbook.me/
- Schedule a remote/virtual meeting – https://nvilla3-remote.youcanbook.me/