Following a highly competitive, national search, UMN Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel Croson has named Dr. Melinda M. Pettigrew as the new dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH), effective December 29, 2023. Dr. Pettigrew is the eighth person to hold this title since the founding of the school in 1944.

An experienced academic leader and accomplished researcher and educator, Dr. Pettigrew will be the school’s chief executive and chief academic officer, providing collaborative leadership to maintain and enhance SPH as a leader in advancing population health and health equity in Minnesota and beyond.

The school and University are very excited to welcome Dr. Pettigrew into this new leadership role and will share more information about this transition in fall 2023!