Contact Us

Laura Linnan

Laura Linnan, ScD
Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs
linnan@email.unc.edu

• Provides strategic visioning and leadership for academic planning and oversight of Students Affairs efforts
• Oversees and implements activities related to the Appointments, Promotions and Tenure process
• Ensures high-quality and integrity of School’s curriculum
• Represents Gillings School of Global Public Health on academic matters university-wide
• Ensures the School meets criteria for CEPH and SACs accreditations
• Chairs the Academic Programs Committee (APC) and the MPH Steering Committee.
• Ex Officio member of the Appointments, Promotions and Tenure (APT) Committee

Aleta Gaertner

Aleta Gaertner, MPH
Coordinator for Curriculum Assessment, Accreditation and Pedagogy
aleta@email.unc.edu

• Provides technical assistance for curriculum development, program coordination, evaluation and accreditation compliance
• Coordinates and provides faculty development consultations and workshops on competency-based educational best practices
• Co-leads the schoolwide evaluation plan and chairs the Evaluation Subcommittee

Karla Townley-Tilson

Karla Townley-Tilson, MBA
Associate Director for Residential MPH
kttilson@unc.edu

• Leads program and operations for the residential MPH program and COMPASS (Core Online Modules to Promote and Accelerate Student Success)
• Manages dual degree partnerships for the master’s of public health program
• Chairs the Culminating Experience/ Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) Subcommittee

Catherine Gihlstorf, MEd
Associate Director for MPH@UNC
catherine_gihlstorf@unc.edu

• Leads program and operations for the online MPH@UNC program
• Liaises with technology delivery partner for MPH@UNC
• Coordinates program excellence with admissions, advising, student support and marketing

Pamela Lee

Pamela Lee, MA
Strategic Initiatives Coordinator
pjlee@email.unc.edu

• Manages and coordinates large scale, data-driven higher education projects and strategic initiatives at the School
• Edits Academic Affairs e-newsletter and 5 MPH Quick Facts; manage Academic Affairs website and other communication deliverables
• Coordinates meetings for schoolwide committees – Chairs’ Committee, MPH Steering Committee, and Academic Programs Committee

Kerstin Sorensen

Kerstin Sorensen, PhD
Adjunct Faculty Coordinator for MPH@UNC
sorensen@email.unc.edu

• Manages recruitment, onboarding and retention of adjunct faculty to teach with MPH@UNC
• Provides oversight, support, and feedback to ensure quality of adjunct faculty performance and serves as a resource to MPH@UNC teaching teams
• Manages process improvements/strategic tasks to support onboarding, develop quality control strategy, and create professional development opportunities.

Vacant
MPH@UNC Immersions Coordinator

Cassie Nakamoto

Cassie Nakamoto, MPH
MPH Academic Support Coordinator
cnaka@email.unc.edu

• Assists with operations for residential MPH and COMPASS (Core Online Modules to Promote and Accelerate Student Success)
• Lead for student communication pertaining to all Gillings MPH students both residentially and online
• Assists with processing concentration changes, student deferrals and the biannual hiring process for Teaching Assistants and Senior Fellowship

Stephanie Garrett

Stephanie Garrett
Executive Assistant to Senior Associate Dean
stephanie.garrett@unc.edu

• Provides email, calendar, meeting and administrative support for the Senior Associate Dean
• Coordinates and supports activities related to schoolwide events and Academic Affairs committees