We are incredibly proud to share the news that Dr. Novalene Goklish is the recipient of the 2025–2026 Bloomberg School of Public Health Faculty Award for Excellence in U.S. Public Health Practice — the school’s sole award recognizing outstanding impact in public health service across the United States.
Dr. Goklish, belovedly known as Novalene, is a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and Assistant Scientist with the Center for Indigenous Health. She was honored for her leadership in the Celebrating Life Suicide Prevention Program. Developed in partnership with the White Mountain Apache Tribe, Celebrating Life is a community-driven system for suicide surveillance and response that has changed how prevention work is carried out in Indigenous communities. The Celebrating Life Suicide Prevention Program has contributed to meaningful reductions in suicide attempts and deaths on the reservation and has become a nationally and globally recognized model for Indigenous suicide prevention rooted in community leadership, cultural strengths, and local accountability.
For nearly 30 years, Novalene has served her White Mountain Apache community, from the Center’s original hub in Whiteriver, Arizona. Her work has always been rooted in relationships and responsibility—engaging young people, their families, community elders, local healers and Tribal leadership to work together to prevent suicide. She has led research, practice and training programs that are fielding new solutions to cultural and strengths-based approaches to suicide prevention. She is a beacon of hope for her community, and now many more tribal communities want to learn from her and her team and replicate the proven prevention programs she has led for the White Mountain Apache community. Center Director Allison Barlow has worked alongside Novalene for three decades. She says, “I can’t tell you the number of times in a week I ask myself, what would Novalene do? In the darker moments, I particularly ask, how would Novalene act to carry us forward? And always, there is a Novalene driven example that comes to mind. That is why Novalene so deserves this award. She is a selfless, determined force for good for her community and a role model to countless others who work in public health for the most disenfranchised populations across the world.
Novalene earned her Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University, a Master of Science degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Phoenix with an emphasis in Community Health Education. As both a scientist and tribal member, Novalene has helped shape work that is both evidence-based and deeply responsive to the needs, values, and strengths of the White Mountain Apache people.
We are honored to work alongside Novalene, whose passion for and commitment to this sacred work shines through every aspect of her leadership.
