Written by Shelby Crozier
When asked what events they look forward to most during the academic year, many Rollins students will cite the annual Sexual Health Art Show, Sex in the Dark, or Reproductive Health Networking Night. All of these events have one thing in common. That's because it's sponsored by the Emory Reproductive Health Association (ERHA), winner of the 2024 Student Organization Performance Recognition Award for Graduate Student Organization of the Year.
ERHA is a Rollins student organization dedicated to promoting reproductive health and rights. We support awareness, research, and action on reproductive health issues through community outreach, awareness and education events, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising. Additionally, each year, in partnership with the Global Fund to End Abortion Maternal Mortality (GEMMA), they host the much-anticipated GEMMA Night in Rollins, where abortion and reproductive health researchers share their research findings. I am.
ERHA and its members are committed to including and uplifting historically marginalized voices in our programs. These values have drawn many members and participation from across Rollins, including Cindy Cheng, her MPH sophomore in the Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences and her 2023 ERHA Communications Chair. Masu.
“When I started the MPH program, I wanted to find a way to give back to the community,” Chen said. “ERHA aligned with my interests and allowed me to connect more deeply with what I am passionate about. Their values, events, and resources aligned with what I wanted to learn and support. It was easy for me to decide that I wanted to join their board.”
The Graduate Student Organization of the Year Award is presented to a “graduate student organization that exemplifies a commitment to improving and strengthening Emory and/or the greater Atlanta community.” ERHA embodies this commitment through its services, leadership development, and collaboration. and other groups in both Rollins and the broader Emory community.
“This award was like the culmination of a long and fulfilling year,” says Chen. “A lot of work goes into each event that many people don’t realize, so it really means a lot to have our efforts recognized. Our group does all the preparation throughout the year. We put a lot of time and effort into it, but it wouldn't have been possible without the support of Rollins and each other.”
