Jessica Quinn and Chelsea Hicks, both outstanding graduate students in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, were recently named the 2020-21 recipients of the Zwerling-Sprince Scholarship in Occupational and Environmental Health.

Quinn is an MS student in industrial hygiene. She served as president of the Iowa-Illinois Industrial Hygiene Student Association, the University of Iowa’s student local section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. Quinn’s thesis research provided evidence that ultraviolet light may be a useful tool for the inactivation of virus on surfaces. Her work supports continued efforts to reduce transmission of SARs-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. She also held internships at Alliant Energy and NASA Glenn Research Center, where in 2018 she received the NASA Group Achievement Award in recognition of outstanding achievement, commitment, and teamwork for improving health and safety.

“Jessica’s academic work has consistently been exemplary,” notes Associate Professor Matthew Nonnenmann, who served as Quinn’s advisor. “She has performed exceedingly well in the classroom, while completing both an internship and an MS thesis. Students are only required to complete a thesis or an internship, Jessica has completed both of these activities with distinction.”

Hicks is a PhD student with a focus in occupational injury prevention. Her dissertation focuses on social vulnerability to natural disasters and the effect on community violence. In 2018, she completed a graduate research fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Violence Prevention. During the past two summers, she worked with the University of Iowa Summer Health Professions Education Program as a mentor and teaching assistant to undergraduate students. Hicks has been the president of the UI Society of Black Graduate and Professional Students, as well as the president of the UI InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship. She has also served on numerous committees at the departmental, college, and university levels.

“Chelsea has many outstanding qualities that demonstrate her ability to become a strong professional and leader in the field,” says her advisor Associate Professor Carri Casteel, who praised Hicks’ intelligence, passion, and exceptional interpersonal skills. “Above all, Chelsea has integrity and a strong work ethic, both of which have drawn the attention of university and CPH leaders.”

The Zwerling-Sprince scholarship is named for two University of Iowa faculty members — Craig Zwerling and Nancy L. Sprince — who served in senior leadership roles in the College of Public Health during a period spanning more than 20 years.

Zwerling, an injury epidemiologist, led groundbreaking research in occupational injury and health. He also directed the UI Injury Prevention Research Center and served as the first Head of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health.

Sprince is an occupational medicine physician specializing in respiratory diseases. She directed the UI Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety and was the Director of the occupational medicine residency program.