Dean's Welcome
Rodney Lyn, Dean and Professor
Public Health at Georgia State University has grown rapidly over the years. Since our first cohort of graduate certificate students in 2002, we have developed into a fully accredited school, offering a full complement of degree programs. Our growing enrollment has now surpassed 840 students, with a network of over 2,000 alumni serving their communities through research, education, and practice at public health institutions and agencies, nationally and around the globe. We are expanding our global reach through research collaborations and study-abroad programs with partners in Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Indonesia, Iraq, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
The School of Public Health’s research impact includes prolific scholarship by our internationally recognized faculty and $17.8 million in sponsored funding this past fiscal year. We have research expertise and community-based interventions focused on chronic disease and determinants, infectious disease; urban environment and urban health; substance use and mental health; and tobacco prevention and control. The School of Public Health houses the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development, a university-level research center dedicated to preventing child maltreatment, reducing family violence, and improving the lives of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have established a Prevention Research Center aimed at eliminating health disparities of the refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities in Clarkston, Georgia. The growth and success of the School of Public Health reflects the incredible talent and commitment of our students, faculty, and staff, the investment and guidance of our board of advisors, and the joint efforts and support of our community partners. As we continue to recruit extraordinary talent and cultivate new partnerships locally and globally, we find inspiration and enthusiasm in imagining the future of our school and what we can achieve together.
Our diverse community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners has come together to name the shared values that define us and to chart a course for continued growth of our school. We believe health is a human right. Our vision and mission are rooted in our commitment to health equity. We appreciate and respect all aspects of diversity. We champion equity, inclusion, and social justice. In a collective voice, we have declared this is who we are; this is what we value; and this is where we are going. We believe the School of Public Health is poised to become a premier urban school of public health, solving contemporary and emerging public health challenges through interdisciplinary and applied research. A national leader in health equity education and the destination of choice for students, nationally and internationally. This is the future we have collectively envisioned for the School of Public Health, and we are committed to realizing it together.
Our Vision 2027 Strategic Plan details our efforts to expand our reach and impact, tell our story and engage those who share our values, vision, and mission. Successful implementation of our strategic plan will be a joint initiative drawing upon the expertise, ingenuity, and passion across our school. We are grateful for the countless contributions of time and energy that have led to the development of this plan, and we are excited to begin this work together.
Sincerely,
Rodney Lyn, Ph.D., M.S.
Dean and Professor
Office of Academic Assistance
Urban Life Building
140 Decatur Street
Suite 300
Mailing Addresses
School of Public Health
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3995
Atlanta, GA 30302-3995
Express & Overnight Mailing
Name of Faculty or Staff
School of Public Health
Georgia State University
140 Decatur Street - Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30303