Dean’s Message – June 2023
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Wait, what happened to June? Is this month over already? We were all just at graduation celebrating the success and achievements of our students and, in what seems the blink of an eye, a month has passed. Despite the illusion of time flying by, there have been many advancements and achievements that I’d like to share with the SPHHS community for the month of June.
I am delighted to announce that Dr. Jane Kent, a professor in Kinesiology, has been named a Distinguished Professor by the UMass Board of Trustees. She is just the second faculty member in our school to receive this honor, which is bestowed on a select few professors who are exemplary within the UMass system. Congratulations, Jane!
Furthermore, we extend our congratulations to Dr. Sofiya Alhassan for her election as a Fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology and to Dr. Laura Vandenberg for being named the Acting Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement. Our faculty are true leaders in the field of science and academics.
Next, Dr. Airín Martínez, assistant professor in Health Promotion and Policy, received the 2023 Distinguished Community Engagement Award for her work in the Latinx community related to the effects of institutionalize racism on health.
We have several faculty members working in interdisciplinary teams funded by the university to develop novel research ideas. These projects showcase the breadth and depth of our expertise and spirit of collaboration as well as innovation. This includes work by Drs. Alhassan, Martini, and Debold (Kinesiology), Drs. Sibeko, Cordeiro, and Patton-Lopez (Nutrition), and Dr. Martínez (Health Promotion and Policy).
Lastly, I want to thank Dr. Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson for serving as chair of Health Promotion and Policy. Her leadership has contributed greatly to the department’s success and diversity. Her patience, level-headedness, and wisdom will be missed. I’d also like to welcome Dr. Sarah Goff as the new chair of this department. She is a physician and academician with expertise in improving healthcare access and quality for marginalized populations, implementation science, and community engaged research. I look forward to having you on our SPHHS leadership team in the coming academic year.