Appointment of Dr. Brian Primack as Dean of Public Health and Human Sciences

Jan. 10, 2022

10 January 2022

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Brian Primack will serve as dean of the College of Public Health and Human Sciences beginning June 30, 2022.

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Dr. Primack currently serves as dean of the College of Education and Health Professions and the Henry G. Hotz endowed professor at the University of Arkansas. In this role, he leads a highly diverse unit of over 5,400 undergraduate and graduate students and 500 faculty and staff members in areas such as public health, kinesiology, K-12 education, nursing, counseling, occupational therapy, and athletic training. The College of Education and Health Professions has a $70 million annual budget and receives $20 million annually in research awards.

Prior to this, Dr. Primack was dean of the Honors College and the Bernice L. and Morton S. Lerner professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Before joining the Honors College, he was assistant vice chancellor for Pitt Health Sciences and the founding director of a multidisciplinary Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health. He has over 250 peer-reviewed publications in areas spanning public health, behavioral science, substance use, mental health, and education. He has been principal investigator on federal research projects totaling over $10 million. His research findings have been reported in news sources, including National Public Radio, the New York Times, Cosmopolitan, US News and World Report, the BBC, and the Washington Post.

Public Health and Human Sciences Associate Dean Vicki Ebbeck, professor of kinesiology, will serve as acting dean through Jan. 31 when Javier Nieto’s appointment officially ends. I am pleased that she has agreed to then serve as interim dean from Feb. 1 until Dr. Primack’s appointment begins.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Primack to this new role and wishing Dr. Nieto, a healthy and happy retirement. Also join me in thanking Dr. Ebbeck for providing leadership for the college in the coming months.

Sincerely,

Edward Feser

Provost and Executive Vice President