Announcing the Search for a New Dean of the…

Dear Colleagues,

After ten years of distinguished service, Dr. Boris Lushniak will complete his final term in his role as Dean of the School of Public Health in June 2027.

Dean Lushniak has brought exceptional administrative leadership and a deep passion for public health to the School. His exemplary communication skills and empathetic, personable approach have cultivated a strong and inclusive culture, earning widespread praise for his support of students, faculty, and staff—particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also demonstrated courage in taking on emerging social issues – such as geopolitical conflicts, racial injustice, immigration policy, and gun violence – that have important implications for public health.

As Dean, he has worked to significantly expand the School’s activities and influences, including establishing new collaborations through his work in co-leading the Maryland Commission on Public Health, securing the planned expansion of the school to the Health and Human Sciences Complex, and increasing the number of incoming new students as public health majors. . The collaborative spirit he has cultivated has led to tremendous interdisciplinary research success, including involvement in 14 Grand Challenges Grants projects. The School’s faculty have led 10 of those projects, including two institutional grant awardees: the Global FEWture Alliance and the new Women’s Health Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative.

His vision led to the successful launch of a new department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health and a Global Health B.S. degree in 2023. He has been a passionate champion of the School and the public health field, elevating its visibility both on campus and nationally. I am deeply grateful for his dedication and service to the University of Maryland.

I have appointed a search committee and launched a national search to find an outstanding leader to fill the position of Dean of the School of Public Health. I’m pleased to announce that Dr. Kimberly Griffin, Dean of the College of Education, will chair the committee, which will be assisted by the international executive search firm Isaacson Miller. The complete list of committee members is provided below.

The next Dean of the School of Public Health will be a visionary leader charged with advancing and elevating the School’s mission and impact while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. This leader will support transformative teaching and learning, champion impactful research and scholarship, guide interdisciplinary partnerships across the university and broader communities, and steward resources to advance the School’s goals.

The successful candidate will be an intellectual leader with the scholarly record and terminal degree to be appointed as a full professor, and bring a proven record of leadership, a collaborative spirit, and a forward-looking vision for the future of public health.

In partnership with the university’s academic leadership team, the Dean will also help advance institutional priorities and build meaningful connections beyond campus. By engaging policymakers, public officials, alumni, and business leaders, the Dean will expand opportunities for students, strengthen community engagement, and attract new resources to support the School’s mission and continued growth.

Identifying a Dean who can build on the School’s strengths and momentum will require a collaborative effort that draws on the full engagement of our community alongside the search committee. We invite you to support this process by sharing the opportunity through your networks and helping us reach exceptional candidates who can bring visionary leadership to the School.

To suggest potential candidates or forward nominations, or to send inquiries or comments to the search firm, please use the search website.

Regards,

Jennifer King Rice
Senior Vice President and Provost

School of Public Health Dean Search Committee

Kimberly Griffin, Chair | Dean, College of Education
Nate Apathy | Assistant Professor, School of Public Health
Cynthia Baur | Professor and Director, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy, School of Public Health
Hassanatu Blake | Associate Clinical Professor, School of Public Health
Michael Brown | Professor and Chair, School of Public Health
Ali Hurtado | Associate Professor, School of Public Health
Abba Gumel | Distinguished University Professor, College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences
Xin He | Associate Professor, School of Public Health
Kelly Jones | Program Administrative Specialist, School of Public Health
Olivia Kong | Undergraduate Student, School of Public Health
Erin McClure | Assistant Dean for Diversity, School of Public Health
Kathleen McPhaul | Associate Research Professor, School of Public Health
William Reed | Associate Provost for Academic Planning, Office of the Provost
Kimberly Schmidt | Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration, School of Public Health
Heidi Sweely | Chief Development Officer, School of Public Health
Kellee White Whilby | Associate Professor, School of Public Health
Jenna Yang | Doctoral Student, School of Public Health

Announcing the Search for a New Dean of the School of Public Health