Dear SPH Community,

After more than a decade of service, Caroline Kuo, associate professor of behavioral and social sciences and senior advisor on Diversity for the School of Public Health, will be leaving Brown at the end of this semester to join American University’s Department of Health Studies as an associate professor with tenure. We have been honored to work with Caroline and we are indebted to her for her numerous contributions to research, teaching, mentoring, and to the development of the School’s diversity portfolio.

Caroline arrived at Brown in 2010 as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, rising to the position of associate professor in 2018. Her work is dedicated to global health, to building the resilience of young people, and to creating programs that enable these populations to thrive in contexts of high adversity. She is a prolific scholar with numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and policy papers, many of which she has co-written with students—a testament to her dedication to mentoring the next generation of public health researchers. Caroline was recently distinguished by the National Institute of Mental Health as an outstanding woman scientist advancing the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses. She holds a Master of Philosophy in International Development from Oxford University (Saint Cross College) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Policy, also from Oxford University (Nuffield College).

Caroline has taken on challenging and innovative research projects and played a key role in expanding the School’s global health curriculum. Along with mentoring numerous students both formally and informally, Caroline has been a member of several School and University committees. Her biggest contribution, however, was to the development of the School’s programming in diversity and inclusion. As the School’s inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Caroline collaborated with senior leadership to grow and diversify our community, launching impactful diversity initiatives, and helping to create a culture where all our perspectives are welcomed and valued. While we are excited for Caroline and her new opportunity, we will deeply miss her presence and guidance.

Please join us in thanking Caroline for her remarkable service and contributions to the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and postdocs in our community, and in congratulating her on this wonderful new opportunity.

Warm regards,

Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH
Dean

Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH
Academic Dean