Shaping tomorrow’s public health leaders

Dana Rice, DrPH
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Our 64 academic programs provide students with up-to-the-minute public health content and skills development in broad public health areas, and our curricula provide our graduates with the workforce-ready preparation needed by employers.

This Fall, we welcomed the inaugural class of 34 students pursuing the new Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree in Community and Global Public Health, which prepares students to work in partnership with local and global communities to identify, assess and address health programs and to achieve health equity.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program was pleased to welcome MPH@UNC online students to campus for two immersive experiences. The Fall immersion aligned with Practicum Day, the Experience Gillings Open House and the National Health Equity Research Webcast. The Spring immersion coincided with the Minority Health Conference. The MPH program reinstated the in-person Practicum Day event, which showcases and celebrates the previous academic year’s practica and their impacts. (See facing page for practicum impacts.)

Doctoral programs continue to prepare students as highly skilled, highly employable researchers and leaders. More than 95% of doctoral graduates were either employed, engaged in a post-doctoral fellowship or pursuing other educational opportunities 12 months after graduating.

Laura Linnan, ScD, stepped down from her role as senior associate dean for academic and student affairs after 10 years of invaluable leadership. Dana Rice, DrPH, began as associate dean for academic affairs after having first served for four years as the school’s inaugural assistant dean for master’s programs. We also welcomed Ciara Zachary, PhD, as assistant dean for master’s programs, and Shelley Golden, PhD, as inaugural assistant dean for doctoral programs.

The student affairs team has strengthened the career services unit, led by Greg Bocchino, EdD. His team is rolling out a robust career services plan, responsive to student feedback and integrating ideas from different degree program leaders, to help graduating students — and early career alumni — adapt to a rapidly changing work environment. Between 97-99% of students find employment or pursue further education within 6-12 months of graduating.

Mark Holmes, PhD
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs

The Gillings School also has a new Faculty and Staff Affairs unit that will help ensure all employees get the tailored resources they need to grow in their careers, including support for career planning for any staff member who is interested. A key dimension of the new unit will be its focus on supporting faculty — and collaborating with career services — to strengthen student mentoring and career readiness. The Faculty and Staff Affairs unit will also guide implementation of the newly adopted Gillings Community Plan. The team is currently rolling out opportunities for faculty, students and staff to come together to dialogue across differences through its Heels for Healing program.