Department Head of Public Health

Nominations and applications are invited for the position of Head of the Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University. The Head will be an internationally-recognized academic scholar providing leadership and vision, and will facilitate departmental research, scholarship, and educational activities. In addition, the Head is responsible for the fiscal management of the Department, personnel issues, faculty/staff development, alumni relations, and advocacy for the Department to the College, University, and larger community.

Department. In an exciting new step in 2019, Purdue’s Public Health program was elevated to become the Department of Public Health, which is now rapidly growing its faculty and building on its already well-established programs. The Department is committed to conducting outstanding research, educating students in a diverse and inclusive environment, and promoting health through engagement with the public. The Department is home to 21 tenured/tenure-track and clinical faculty and limited term lecturers, 174 graduate students, and over 170 undergraduate students. Research areas include health promotion and disease prevention, women’s health, community-based participatory research, and health communication, among others. Degrees currently offered include the BS (major in Public Health), MPH (residential, hybrid, online), MS in Public Health, and PhD in Public Health, with a fully online Master of Health Administration degree soon to be launched. Faculty in Public Health are involved in a wide range of cross-campus initiatives, including the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute; the Center for Health Equity and Innovation; the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease; the NCI-funded Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Advanced Methods at Purdue, the Purdue Acceptance and Inclusion Consortium, the Purdue Autism Research Center, and the Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Discovery Park, and others within the 135 university-approved centers and institutes. The department is a CEPH-accredited program and a member of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health.

College. The College of Health and Human Sciences is the third largest college at Purdue and includes nine academic units that hold national and international recognition for their fundamental scientific and programmatic contributions to improving the health of individuals and communities. The College strives to elevate Purdue's reputation in the health and human sciences by positioning the University to meet the health challenges facing the population, growing and creating opportunities for Indiana and the global economy, and enhancing student learning for success in a rapidly changing world. HHS’ multidisciplinary learning environment uniquely prepares students to contribute to improved human health and behavior and to serve as leaders in their disciplines. The College also provides a rich environment for world-changing research and discovery. Purdue’s land-grant mission facilitates the translation of these discoveries from theory to application, benefiting not only those in Indiana but society as a whole.

University. Established in 1869, Purdue is Indiana’s land-grant university, a comprehensive educational and research institution and member of the American Association of Universities (AAU). In addition to the College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University’s strengths in, Agriculture, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Management, Pharmacy, Science, and Veterinary Medicine contribute to a robust research and educational environment. The West Lafayette campus, located one hour north of Indianapolis and two hours south of downtown Chicago, has ten academic colleges with an enrollment of 44,500 students from over 133 countries. The diverse greater Lafayette/West Lafayette community (http://www.homeofpurdue.com/) has a population of approximately 200,000, and a low cost of living.

Position requirements and timeline. Applicants must have scholarly credentials commensurate with the rank of tenured Full Professor, including an earned doctorate in public health or related discipline from an accredited school or program. An MPH or MHA degree is desirable. Regardless of academic specialty, applicants should have a strong understanding of and appreciation for public health issues and concerns. Desirable attributes include a strong record of published research and external funding, prior experience in academic administration and undergraduate and graduate education, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to the development and advancement of individual faculty, staff, and students, and the Department as a whole. This position is a full-time, 12 month, tenured position.

Confidential review of applications will begin on January 11, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should include (1) a letter of interest indicating leadership philosophy and relevant research and administrative experience, (2) a full curriculum vitae, (3) a statement of commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Purdue University’s Department of Public Health is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of faculty effort including scholarship, instruction, and engagement. Candidates’ statements should address at least one of these areas, indicating their past experiences, current interests or activities, and/or future goals to promote a climate that values diversity and inclusion. Applications should be submitted https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=12165&company=purdueuniv. Nominations and questions regarding the position or the application process may be directed to Ms. Stephanie Ferguson, Executive Recruiter, Purdue University Human Resources, at fergus52@purdue.edu. A background check will be required for employment in this position.

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.