Dean's Welcome
When I began my position as Dean of the School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in early January, 2009, I reflected in my initial welcome message that the SPHHS was well poised to grow and build upon its already outstanding accomplishments. Our faculty and students were energetic and committed, our research funding and production had been steadily increasing, and our outreach efforts had tremendous impact upon our regional, national, and even global, communities.
I’m pleased to say that our achievements continue to exceed even my high expectations. We recently received the news that the Kinesiology department was ranked in the top of the nation by the National Research Council in its review of doctoral programs in 2010. Kinesiology was one of three such programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to receive this recognition, and is well deserving of this extraordinary external national validation.
New efforts are underway to enhance the online MPH program in Public Health Practice. As one of the first fully online MPH programs in the country when it was started in 2001, it has grown to approximately 200 students. The Nutrition department recently began its accredited fully online MPH degree and interest in this degree is soaring. The school undergraduate programs continue to appeal to students. The Public Health undergraduate program began in May 2007 and has nearly 300 majors. The undergraduate program in Communication Disorders has grown from 137 to 265, and Kinesiology from 240 to 700 students since 2001.
Research participation in all departments increased in 2010 from the previous academic year. The SPHHS’ externally-funded research increased by 15% from the previous year, which is significant in the current funding climate. Included in these numbers are funds for training graduate students in Communication Disorders, and research awards from many federal agencies and foundations including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
None of these accomplishments were easy. They are the result of the time, energy, hard work and commitment of faculty, staff and students. We have been fortunate to hire several excellent junior faculty in Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Public Health and are continuing to hire faculty in the current academic year. The new energy and outside viewpoints of these individuals enrich the departments and the school and enhance student opportunities. Combined with the energy already present, I feel confident in stating again this year, that the school is well poised to continue to improve and grow.
As the only public accredited School of Public Health in New England, we recognize the importance of research, education, outreach and practice in our mission. I look forward to continuing to work with the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends to make the SPHHS even more productive, and a more welcoming environment for all.
Please join me in supporting the SPHHS in all that it does for the community, the Commonwealth, the nation and the world, as we embark on future initiatives in public health and health sciences.
My best wishes,
C. Marjorie Aelion
