Dear SPH Community,

I am writing with mixed feelings to share that Nancy Barnett has decided to step down from her role as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, effective July 31. I have asked her, and she has agreed, to stay on as Senior Advisor to the Dean of Faculty Affairs to help support the transition to her eventual successor.

Mixed feelings because over the past five years, Nancy has done an extraordinary job for the School and for the broader SPH community and has helped me during this transition year. For all of that, I am grateful. But she wants to, after 5 years in this role, return to research and mentoring, which I understand. Thankfully, she will remain at the school as an esteemed member of our faculty as Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Over the course of her tenure, Nancy has collaborated with the department chairs, supporting and advising on all areas of faculty engagement, and partnered closely with her fellow associate deans in support of academics, research, and equity and inclusion.

Under her leadership, the School’s number of core faculty members grew from 78 to 125, and she has worked to standardize our approach to faculty searches, hiring, promotions, and evaluations with high standards and attending to issues of equity and inclusion. Nancy has also provided invaluable input for the SPH strategic and operational plans, as well as our CEPH re-accreditation process.

Throughout the pandemic and leadership transitions, she has ensured that Faculty Affairs continued to run smoothly, and I have relied on Nancy’s expertise as we implement new faculty initiatives.

It has been an honor to work with Nancy. You all know what a warm, effective colleague she is, and I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role as Senior Advisor to the Dean of Faculty Affairs. Please join me in thanking her for her extraordinary service and congratulating her on such an accomplished term as associate dean.

With regards,

Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH
Dean, School of Public Health