From the Dean

Spring 2007

Dear Friends,

The cover photo for this edition of Advances really caught my eye. There’s something about happy, healthy-looking children that warms the heart of any school of publichealth dean. What’s even better is that these girls and their classmates are first-graders participating in Bright Start, one of our school’s obesity prevention research projects. They live on the Pine Ridge reservation in southwestern South Dakota. The students are pictured during one of the class walks they take several times each week as part of the project.

This is one of the many ways our school is linked with American Indian tribes throughout the region. Our partnerships have been in place for decades in some instances, span research and education, and share the common goal of working to promote health amongone of the most at-risk populations among us. Our work with this culturally rich community is featured in the cover story, which begins on page 2. What’s more, our American Indian students and alumni are among our brightest stars. Please take a moment to read the alumni profiles on page 17.

While you’re on the alumni page, take note of the newly elected School of Public Health Alumni Society Board. Members come from a variety of leadership positions across the United States. They share the common goal of wanting to engage with a school that has played a part in helping them to reach great professional heights. I am grateful for the role they will serve in helping to shape a program that will benefit SPH alumni all over the world.

And finally, a big thank you to all alumni and community partners who participated in the year-long accreditation process, which culminated recently with a site visit by a team from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Accreditation is critical to the status of our school and we couldn’t receive this important designation without you.

John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.
Dean and Professor
Assistant Vice President for Public Health