Philanthropy enhances the Gillings School's ability to innovate in public health practice, environmental health, global health, and inclusivity.
Charitable giving supports important initiatives that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. In contrast to traditional funding sources — like tuition, state appropriations and research grants — philanthropy gives the Gillings School flexibility to respond to a changing world in ways that are often at the heart of our mission. Learn more below!
Public health practice
Practice is “doing the work.” Gillings School students, faculty and staff partner with communities. They work side-by-side to assess health and develop, implement, and evaluate interventions, programs, and policies to improve health.
Philanthropy has played a vital role in launching the Gillings School’s practice hubs in North Carolina communities, by funding student practicum and pre-dissertation work. Students and faculty members are collaborating with community leaders to solve local issues from water quality to infant mortality.
Environment, health and climate
As climate and environmental change pose a greater threat to humans and ecosystems, there is an urgent need for public health professionals who are trained to address complex problems at the intersection of environment, climate and health.
Charitable giving is already funding important areas of study and practice to understand, protect and improve our environment, from projects that are employing AI to develop air quality policies to engineering innovative batteries that use simple saltwater and investigating new methods to remove harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS] from drinking water.
Global health
Empowering global health leaders through long-standing partnerships at home and abroad, students and faculty at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health improve health around the world and in our backyard through research, teaching and practice.
One of the best ways to ensure cutting-edge research, methods and expertise are put to work is to fund opportunities for Gillings School students to learn alongside world-renowned experts on the front lines of public health. Our local-to-global model ensures communities around the world can benefit from approaches developed right here in N.C. and vice versa.
Inclusive excellence
At the Gillings School, we value different perspectives and understand that public health students benefit from a global focus as we strive to prepare them to tackle 21st century challenges. Faculty and students alike engage in research and practice to identify and confront disparities wherever they affect health.
Funds established to advance inclusive excellence support change-making initiatives and scholarships that train tomorrow’s public health workforce.
Dean’s Acceleration Fund
The dean’s signature fund provides flexibility to respond to urgent needs and capitalize on emerging opportunities in all these areas. It has been directed to fund practice hubs, a review of our global health curriculum and efforts to foster a more inclusive environment at the Gillings School.
Contact the Gillings School Advancement team to learn more about how you can support one of these areas giving.sph@unc.edu. Or donate directly here: go.unc.edu/SPHDeansPriorities
