Alumni Spotlight: Suzan Brydon is Powered by Purpose

When Suzan Brydon, PhD, MPH ’25, laced up her running shoes for her very first 5K, she was already in her 40s. For someone who grew up in Ridgeway, Illinois—a rural town so small it still doesn’t have a stoplight—road races weren’t exactly part of everyday life. Exercise wasn’t modeled, nutrition wasn’t discussed, and health care access was limited at best.

But when her husband faced a second cancer diagnosis, he responded with a bold proclamation: after completing radiation treatment, he intended to run a half marathon. His determination lit a spark. “I was so blown away by that kind of approach and understanding of how important goal setting and healthy habits were,” Brydon recalls. Inspired, she set her own goal, running her first 5K while helping raise money for cancer caregiver support.

That race launched a transformation. What began with local 5Ks grew into half marathons, full marathons, and, eventually, ultra-marathons—50Ks, 100-milers, even 200-mile races. “It really made me reconsider what people are capable of,” she says.

From Rural Roots to Global Health Goals

Brydon’s personal running journey eventually dovetailed with her academic and professional path. With a PhD in communication and years of experience in academia and health care operations, she returned to graduate school during the COVID-19 pandemic, enrolling in the online MPH program with a concentration in Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

“[The MPH program] really meshed with the social justice elements I studied during my PhD. I wanted to beef up my understanding of the health care ecosystem, and the program gave me that foundation.”

—Suzan Brydon, PhD, mph '25

The program’s emphasis on social determinants of health resonated deeply. “It really meshed with the social justice elements I studied during my PhD,” she explains. “I wanted to beef up my understanding of the health care ecosystem, and the program gave me that foundation.”

As she advanced in her studies, she found herself reflecting on her rural upbringing and the opportunities she never had as a young girl to explore fitness and health in empowering ways. That reflection connected her to Girls on the Run, a national nonprofit that inspires young girls through running, confidence-building, and a research-based curriculum.

A Fellowship on the Move

Bryden’s capstone project became more than an academic requirement; it evolved into a national fellowship with her employer, the Cigna Group. Through Cigna’s Community Ambassador Fellowship, a 12-week program that places employees with nonprofits to drive measurable community impact, Brydon designed a project that fused her passions: running, health equity, and youth empowerment.

Over the summer, she ran more than 2,000 miles across five states, from Indiana to Colorado, pausing along the way to listen to communities, families, and especially the voices of girls. Partnering with Girls on the Run, she blogged daily updates, delivered motivational talks, gathered observational research on barriers to physical activity in rural areas, and demonstrated that health doesn’t have to be out of reach.

“It was a way to show people that there are great places to exercise right in their backyard, and they’re really underutilized,” Brydon says. Her path carried her through counties where she grew up, worked, and studied, a full-circle journey that connected personal history with professional purpose.

Lessons for the Next Generation

For Brydon, the project was about more than just logging miles. It was about asking what could change if young girls had the confidence and tools to build healthy habits earlier in life. “Girls on the Run talks about helping girls activate their limitless potential,” she notes. “That phrase really resonated with me. What if I had learned that lesson at 10 instead of 40?” 

“Girls on the Run talks about helping girls activate their limitless potential. That phrase really resonated with me. What if I had learned that lesson at 10 instead of 40?”

—Suzan Brydon, mph '25

Her advice for current health policy students reflects the same philosophy: bring your passions forward. “Don’t hesitate to carve your own path with your adviser. When your project reflects what you care about most, it’s not only more rewarding—it’s easier to complete.”

She also stresses the importance of connection, especially in a hybrid or online program. Serving as a teaching assistant for a problem-solving class gave her a chance to build community with fellow students. “It takes effort, but the more you put into connecting, the more engaged and involved you’ll feel.” 

What’s Next

Just days after officially finishing the program, Brydon is savoring the chance to read fiction for fun, a small but welcome shift after years of parsing research and data. Still, her drive to learn, run, and lead shows no signs of slowing. 

“I’ll always be a lifelong learner,” she says with a smile. “And I’ll always be running toward what’s possible.”