Anna Maria Siega-Riz Reappointed Dean of the School of Public Health and Health Sciences
She first joined the SPHHS as its dean in August 2019.
Content
Anna Maria Siega-Riz has been reappointed as dean of the School of Public Health and Health Sciences for a five-year term effective September 1, 2024.
"I am confident that Dean Siega-Riz will continue to be a highly effective and accomplished leader for the school," Interim Provost Michael Malone said in a statement issued to the UMass community. "She has demonstrated this capacity through the school’s successful CEPH reaccreditation, and reputational growth nationally, as evidenced by her service at the National Academy of Sciences, National Institutes of Health and SPHHS’ well-deserved 2022 Harrison C. Spencer Award by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health."
Siega-Riz was first appointed dean beginning in August 2019 and guided the school through an extraordinarily challenging time due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The provost lauded her for placing "a priority on diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence, and on efficiency of academic operations and on fiscal responsibility. Her emphasis on data-informed decisions lead to significant increases in transparency and consistency of leadership, and she supported infrastructure growth during an extraordinarily difficult period for staff, students, and faculty. Dean Siega-Riz is an excellent collaborator and advocate for many improvements across campus, chief among them our participation in the Okanagan Charter."
“It has been a privilege and a profoundly humbling experience to serve as the dean of our esteemed school,” says Siega-Riz. “As I eagerly anticipate embarking on my second term, I am reminded of the compelling reasons that drew me to UMass and, more specifically, to the School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS). I chose to be a part of this community because I saw the potential for my strengths and skill set to truly make a difference and enhance the school's standing. My vision for SPHHS was to foster an academic community that embodies care and support among its faculty and staff, conducts groundbreaking research, and is committed to nurturing the minds of our students. I aspired to ensure that every contribution from our dedicated faculty and staff was not only acknowledged but celebrated, while also amplifying the voices of all members of our community and fostering inclusivity in decision-making. Transparency has been at the core of our approach, and I wanted to forge meaningful connections with our students, creating a sense of belonging through activities and programs that facilitate dialogue, learning, and growth. Together, we have made significant strides towards realizing this vision, but there is still work to be done. I eagerly look forward to collaborating with the SPHHS community to continue our journey towards achieving our strategic goals, furthering the cause of education and scholarship for a healthier world.”