Dean's Message - March 2025
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The activities occurring in our world this month inspired me to revisit the 26th verse of Tao Te Ching which says:
"The heavy is the root of the light. The still is the master of unrest.
Realizing this, the successful person is poised and centered in the midst of all activities;
although surrounded by opulence, he is not swayed.
Why should the lord of the country flit about like a fool?
If you let yourself be blown to and fro, you lose touch with your root.
To be restless is to lose one’s self-mastery."
Interpreters of the verse say that we are being advised to maintain a sense of serenity regardless of what we may see taking place around us. I can’t find better words to help our public health and health communities to deal with the current situation that we find ourselves in.
If you have been on campus lately, you have seen the construction of the new SPHHS Hub going up. Its structure is clearly delineated, and the wood beams that will encompass the beautiful atrium are being raised. This is a sign of hope, stability and progress for us in the mist of the chaos that is surrounding our fields. I encourage you to keep track of the building’s progress and be reminded of what a wonderful addition this new hub will make to our climate in the school.
This past Wednesday, the school hosted a strategic planning retreat, bringing together our faculty and staff community to contribute to a SWOT analysis, set future goals, and establish metrics aligned with the University’s new strategic plan for the next decade titled For the Common Good. The session was highly interactive, with department chairs, associate deans, and assistant deans leading discussions across five key domains: Educate, Engage, Connect, Innovate, and Stewardship. Attendance exceeded expectations, and the level of engagement provided valuable insights, guiding our vision for the next decade. I extend my gratitude to all participants and especially to the co-chairs for their outstanding contributions during the retreat.
Besides longer days, warmer temperatures, and flowers in bloom, spring also brings with it an abundance of honors and recognitions for our faculty, staff, and students. In addition to the recognitions in this month’s newsletter, I am delighted to share that Dr. Alicia Timme-Laragy has won yet another award from the Society of Toxicology, The Stephen B. Harris Mid-Career Scientist Award, for her work investigating how embryonic exposure to PFAS and other common pollutants may put people at risk for diabetes and other metabolic health conditions later in life; and Dr. Zhenhua Liu is among the Society of Nutrition’s inaugural cohort of Excellence in Nutrition Fellows. Congratulations for your outstanding work!
Last but not least, I want to increase your awareness and hopefully participation in several upcoming events. These include:
SPHHS Student Speaker Contest: Graduating seniors, please consider applying to be our SPHHS Senior Recognition Ceremony student speaker! Share your words of encouragement, inspiration, and reflection with your peers and guests. Submissions are due by April 7th.
Dean’s Seminar featuring Jennifer Emond: On April 8th, we're delighted to welcome Jennifer Emond, Associate Professor in Biomedical Data Science and Pediatrics at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, for a special talk in the Spring 2025 Dean's Seminar Series. Dr. Emond will discuss "Understanding Child Eating Behaviors During the Preschool Years: A Focus on Food Marketing Exposure, Genetics, and Parental Feeding Practices."
SPHHS T-Shirt Design Contest: Now’s your chance to help us design our next piece of SPHHS swag! Submit your design and have it featured on an official school t-shirt. Remember to include all our departments in your design and a phrase or quote that represents the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. Submissions are due by April 22nd.
SPHHS Research Day: On April 25th, the school will be celebrating its 38th annual Research Day. The event is an annual showcase for the research and practice conducted by students in all SPHHS departments. Last year, we had over 100 participants. Let’s see if we can top that number this year!
UMass 5K Dash & Dine: Join the SPHHS team participating in the 14th Annual UMass 5K Dash & Dine on Saturday, April 26th. Walk or run to benefit the Amherst Survival Center. Every entry comes with an award-winning UMass lunch and t-shirt. Public is welcome, including all runners, walkers, teams, wheelchairs, and strollers. Wear your SPHHS swag!