March 24, 2022

Dear Students, Staff, Faculty, and Postdocs,

As announced on March 17, I will be taking a temporary leave of absence from Brown to work with President Biden on our country's response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. I am excited about Provost Locke’s selection of Ronald Aubert as the interim dean for the School of Public Health while I am on leave. A stalwart member of our community since 2017, Professor Aubert has served the University and the School in multiple roles, most recently as the SPH interim dean for Diversity and Inclusion. Ron brings a deep understanding of the School’s mission and values to this position and a commitment to our community of learners.

As interim dean for the School, Ron will provide ongoing administrative and academic leadership and oversight of SPH budget and personnel matters. Ron will work closely with the School’s leadership team, department chairs, associate deans, center directors, and Provost Locke to ensure that the School’s infrastructure supports operational excellence through enhanced philanthropy, improved financial practice, and expanded physical space.

I am very grateful to Ron for agreeing to take on this role at such an important time in the School’s history. I know that our research, educational, and service initiatives will be in excellent hands while I am away from Brown.

Please join me in thanking Professor Aubert. I know that I can count on the Brown public health community to welcome him and to work with him to advance our mission at this critical period for the School, the University, and the world.

Sincerely,

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