Six Loggers who have made a meaningful impact in their professions, in their communities, and at the university will be honored with Puget Sound’s most prestigious alumni awards during Summer Reunion Weekend June 5 to 7, 2026. Learn more about the celebration at pugetsound.edu/srw.
Jansen Jae Dacquel MPH’24 came to Puget Sound in 2022 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at St. Martin’s University, and he says he fell in love with the “servant leadership” feel of the Master of Public Health program.
“The main thing that drew me to public health in the first place was that it’s more than just a diagnosis — it’s all the experiences an individual has throughout their life,” he says.
Shortly after graduating, he found a role ideally suited to his values as the community health worker program lead at Pediatrics Northwest. He praises the organization’s “patient first, diagnosis second” philosophy, encouraged by the late founder Dr. George Tanbara, and has helped coordinate cultural humility training for his workplace through the University of Puget Sound.
Already, Dacquel has given back to the public health program by providing mentorship for students, collaborating with faculty, and forging a partnership between Puget Sound and Pediatrics Northwest. He credits professors Alexandria Drake and Sara E. Fischer with changing the trajectory of his life.
“If they were never my professors, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” he says.
“They always pushed me to the point where I questioned everything,” he adds. “I feel like curiosity, especially in the public health field, is vital, because if people aren’t curious, then things will remain stagnant.”
