MPH Program Director

Job Description

The Master of Public Health degree is part of the Virginia Tech Public Health Program, housed in the Virginia‐Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and created in partnership with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. The MPH offers two concentrations: infectious disease and public health education, with emphases on One Health and rural/Appalachian health. The program received initial Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation in 2013 and was re‐accredited in 2018 for a seven‐year term.

Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim (that I may serve), is a program core value. Students and faculty engage in research, practice, and volunteer work in our surrounding communities in Southwest and Southside Virginia, the Commonwealth, Central Appalachia, the Nation and the World. The MPH program places emphasis on teamwork and interprofessionalism and has embedded corresponding experiences throughout the curriculum, including a team‐based culminating experience. The MPH program preserves a small student to faculty ratio, allowing all students to develop networks with public health faculty members to gain career and academic mentoring.

The program accepts approximately 40 full‐ and part‐time MPH, DVM/MPH, simultaneous degree (e.g., PhD/MPH, MS/MPH), and accelerated degree (e.g., BSPH/MPH) students each year on the Blacksburg campus. The majority of MPH students are full‐time and complete the program in two years. There are 25 total primary and secondary program faculty and six department staff. Additional academic offerings in the Public Health Program include the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree, undergraduate Public Health minor, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health.

Position Overview

This is a full time, 12‐month, non‐tenure track leadership position in the Public Health Program at Virginia Tech. The primary responsibility is coordination of the Master of Public Health degree program. The distribution of effort is 40% MPH administration and 60% other faculty responsibilities (30% teaching, 20% service, and 10% research/scholarly effort).

Main Responsibilities

The Assistant/Associate Professor of Public Health Practice is part of the faculty leadership team and is responsible for implementing the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at Virginia Tech.

Administrative responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Administer the MPH program in partnership with Virginia Tech faculty and staff and in collaboration with other Virginia public health programs; stakeholders; health departments; and local, regional, national, and international associations;
• Guide strategic planning for the MPH program that is aligned with the missions of the program, department, college, and university;
• Lead the MPH continued accreditation process by working closely with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and stakeholders at Virginia Tech;
• Nurture community among and between students, faculty, and staff in the program and college as well as across the Virginia Tech community and the Commonwealth of Virginia;
• Enhance external partnerships and funding opportunities for public health outreach projects related to the mission of the MPH program;
• Collaborate with college and university development and advancement on engagement of MPH alumni and philanthropes;
• Work closely with the undergraduate BSPH program and the professional Public Health Graduate Certificate.

Faculty responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Participate in the instruction of selected MPH core and concentration courses and/or electives based on expertise of the applicant;
• Advise MPH students;
• Model Ut Prosim to foster student and department engagement in community service;
• Provide professional service to the field (i.e., ASPPH, APHA, CEPH);
• Contribute to department, college, and university shared governance through committee membership;
• Develop and maintain a line of scholarly research.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate public health degree with a demonstrated understanding of MPH programs and training;
• Significant experience in administrative leadership in an accredited academic public health program or school;
• Significant experience in applicable public health experience working in community health, health promotion, and/or health policy;
• Knowledge and experience in the process of CEPH-accreditation of public health programs;
• Demonstrated leadership in the public health field at the local, state, or national levels;
• Engagement with national, regional, state and/or local partnerships that will enhance the MPH program;
• Ability to work in a team environment with academic faculty and public health and/or community practitioners;
• Experience in teaching and mentoring.

Preferred Qualifications

• MPH degree from an accredited program or school;
• A DrPH or PhD in a related field;
• Demonstrated commitment to public health practice in rural settings, especially the Appalachian Region, infectious disease, and/or One Health;
• Significant engagement and/or leadership in CEPH, ASPPH, APHA or other national organization related to public health;
• Experience in teaching and mentoring MPH students;
• Demonstrated ability to develop work plans and timelines, communicate effectively, and meet deadlines and produce deliverables in a timely manner.

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Faculty - Salary

Review Date

April 15, 2021; Position will remain open until filled

Additional Information

The successful Candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Tammy Stevers at tames@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: February 18, 2021
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