Reflections from the Dean — April 2023
April 28, 2023
Happy Friday, Gillings folks — and happy Last Day of Classes!
The temperature is in the 70s, Commencement is mere weeks away and if it rained a little today, well, that’s good for the flowers on campus.
As we wrap up the spring semester, I want to focus on the recent deluge of positive news involving members of our School community. In the face of ongoing public health challenges that we know all too well, we continue to teach, to learn, to mentor, to research and to celebrate each other. Together, we continue to make a meaningful difference.
L-R: Dean Nancy Messonnier, Kristine Thorne and Sarahi Villa Arreguin hand out LocoPops to celebrate the Gillings School’s 2023-2024 rankings results.
Before I go further, I must share my excitement that the Gillings School retained our U.S. News ranking as the top public school of public health in the United States — tied for second overall. As I said in the official announcement earlier this week, my pride about this recognition rests entirely on the shoulders of our faculty, students, staff, alumni and donors, whose brilliance and unwavering commitment to public health have changed so many lives for the better.
In the same spirit of celebration, I want to use the rest of this reflection to shout out members of our community who have been honored and highlighted over the past few months for their outstanding work. Their passion for public health is a major part of why we are ranked so highly as a School and — more importantly — their efforts make communities near and far both healthier and happier.
I am proud to work alongside all of you. I am also so excited to celebrate my first spring Commencement on May 13 with our largest graduating class ever.
Dr. Nancy Messonnier
Dean and Bryson Distinguished Professor in Public Health
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
Enjoy reading more about these achievements from spring semester of 2023! (I know, even as I write this, there are undoubtedly names I will leave off the list. These are simply the honors of which I am aware.)
Faculty member Dr. Dane Emmerling and alum Elana Jaffe were both awarded an Engaged Scholarship Prize.
Students Purva Trivedi and Celeste Kurz Goodwin are the 2023 winners of the School’s Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards.
Dr. Michael R. Kosorok received the George W. Snedecor Award from the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies.
Dr. Mark Holmes stands in front of a rural hospital.
Dr. Mark Holmes was featured for his contributions to rural health research over the past 25 years.
Gillings alum Dr. Aimee Wall is now dean of the UNC School of Government.
Seven graduate and professional students at Gillings were selected as 2023 Community Engagement Fellows through the Carolina Center for Public Service.
Dr. Kimberly Parker Truesdale was interviewed about her support of evidence-based interventions in communities most at risk for heart and lung disease.
Dr. Beth Moracco was named the next faculty chairperson for UNC-Chapel Hill.
Eight Gillings faculty members were recognized for teaching innovation in the classroom.
Recent graduate Dr. Julie Kafka is one of four 2023 recipients of The Graduate School’s annual Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Awards.
Dr. Anna Kahkoska received the American Diabetes Association’s prestigious Pathway to Stop Diabetes grant.
Amma Agyemang-Duah and Rachel Morrow
Master of Public Health students Amma Agyemang-Duah and Rachel Morrow are the Gillings School’s first-ever Public Health Communications Fellows.
Jeffrey Simms is a new member of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership’s Board of Directors.
Gillings students and recent alumni took home five of The Graduate School’s 11 Impact Awards.
Gillings alum Dr. Michelle W. Krause was chosen for a top leadership position at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Dr. Rebecca Fry and students in her lab played a key role in lead testing on UNC’s campus.
Drs. Michael Hudgens, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Jason West and Leah Devlin received School awards for exceptional mentorship, teaching, research and service.
Alumna Dr. Anna Maria Siega-Riz will be the featured speaker during UNC’s 2023 doctoral hooding ceremony.
Dr. Wayne Rosamond accepted the American Heart Association’s EPI Mentoring Award.
Dr. Melinda Beck was made a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Dr. Tanya Garcia poses in front of an image of the human brain.
Dr. Tanya Garcia was highlighted for her work to improve clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
