Dean Messonnier shares a welcome message and unveils the Faculty and Staff Affairs unit, strengthening community connections and advancing leadership initiatives.
As I approach my third year as dean, I continue to be inspired by the innovation and achievements of our Gillings School community. Every day brings a new moment of discovery and pride, whether from meeting a new student in the hallway, reading a publication from our researchers or attending a meeting with the dedicated staff who work behind the scenes to help the Gillings School flourish.
This year’s Impact Report is a testament to our excellence in research, teaching and practice, as well as our commitment to the state and community that support us. It also focuses on our dedication to fostering better health through a supportive and inclusive environment – both inside and outside the School.
While this report highlights the broad achievements that make us a leader in academics and research, it also features our efforts to strengthen community in public health. We’ve welcomed new leadership, added talented faculty, expanded student wellness services, broadened our curriculum and launched training for more inclusive classroom discussions.
We are especially proud to remain the No. 1 public school of public health in the United States. That honor would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of everyone who cares about public health at Carolina – students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors.
I couldn’t be prouder to call Chapel Hill home and to see the collective impact of our work in this community and beyond.
Dr. Nancy Messonnier
Dean and Bryson Distinguished Professor in Public Health
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
Welcome to our new department chairs!
Coming soon: A new Faculty and Staff Affairs unit
This year, the Gillings School began development of a new Faculty and Staff Affairs (FSA) unit, which will support recruitment, retention and professional development; foster a more inclusive and engaged community; and serve as a connector and support network for faculty and staff.
A team led by Mark Holmes, PhD, professor of health policy and management and Lambeth Distinguished Chair in Public Policy, has developed a blueprint for the new unit that aims to achieve the following goals:
- Leverage all available resources: FSA will coordinate and promote opportunities and connect Gillings School people to University and UNC System resources for professional development and support.
- Career advancement: FSA will organize or develop workshops and advising for faculty (appointments, promotions and tenure) and staff (career pathway workshops and advisement).
- Training and development: FSA will organize or develop tailored training programs, best teaching practices and leadership development for faculty and staff.
- Operational excellence: FSA will offer or coordinate programming to enhance team dynamics, supervision and performance management.
- Well-being: FSA will provide or coordinate programs addressing physical, mental, financial, emotional, social and spiritual health.
- Community building: FSA will spearhead recognition and celebration of contributions, engagement opportunities and effective team dynamics.
This new unit exemplifies our commitment to the people at Gillings who help train future leaders in public health, and we are so excited for its launch.
