​​​​Dear SPH community,

Now that we’re through the first busy week of the fall semester, welcome! I hope you had a wonderful summer.

Nine months into my role as dean, I continue to be impressed with the level of commitment, passion, and creativity of our School of Public Health (SPH) community. I attended the SPH 2024 New Student Orientation in August and can confirm our students are engaged, informed, and ready to roll up their sleeves to improve health and well-being. I look forward to your contributions!

As we begin this fall semester, I am reflecting on the SPH mission and values, and I invite you to join me in considering what it means to sustain health equity for all and how different perspectives make us stronger. Turning thought into action, please be sure to register to vote, if you are eligible, and review the University of Minnesota M-Vote resource site, dedicated to providing election information to students, faculty, and staff. Election Day is November 5, 2024. The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost has also created the “Bridging Differences” site with information and opportunities to join conversations on campus.

Along these lines, members of our community may also experience increased stress this fall, whether through direct challenges and crises or supporting others through difficult times. Students, faculty, and staff can find UMN resources at mentalhealth.umn.edu; SPH students can find tailored support and resources on the “SPH Mental Health and Well-Being” resource site; University employees can find mental health resources on the Office of Human Resources mental health resources site. As a community, let’s support each other, and take care of ourselves, remaining grounded and healthy through daily practice, taking planned time away from work and school, and asking for help, when needed.

In pursuit of a “one school identity,” my hope is that we will continue to work on bridging silos and identifying opportunities for collaboration in research, education, and public health practice. Below are a few additional updates on what you can expect to see this year for SPH Dean’s Office projects and initiatives.

Strategic Plan for Antiracism (SPAR) refresh

The groundbreaking Strategic Plan for Antiracism (SPAR) was launched in July 2021 with clearly defined goals, actions, and tactics to be sustained for five years through 2026. This year we will begin conversations and planning on what the next phase of SPAR will look like, including broad consultation and feedback from students, faculty, and staff. We will also communicate and assess the advancements made over four years, celebrating progress and digging into what needs to be improved.

Strategic planning for SPH 

The University’s systemwide strategic plan, MPact 2025, will reach the end of its timeline soon. As new University strategic planning is considered, SPH will begin to hold conversations to identify areas of distinction, focus, and where we will dedicate our considerable strengths over the coming years. Our school’s strategic planning will align with our mission and values, build on existing successes, and look to the future to continue to promote health, health equity, and well-being.

Updating our governance documents

This year we will also update our school shared governance documents, with a focus on the SPH Constitution, to ensure it encourages and preserves broad participation, effectively and efficiently supports SPH work that advances our mission and impact, and is aligned with Board of Regents and University policies. Please expect consultation and to share feedback on these important documents and processes in the coming months.

I am grateful to all of you for your time, energy, and work in service to our mission. Please take care of yourselves, and let me know how I can be helpful to you in your important work.