Newsmakers: October 2021
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* Aaron Warnick

## Thapa named director

In August, APHA member Janani Thapa, PhD, MPA, MS, was named director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health. Thapa is an associate professor with the university’s Department of Health Policy and Management.

## Williams joins board

In July, Americares announced that Michelle Williams, ScD, SM, dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, was elected to serve on its board of directors. Williams, an APHA member, will advise the community and disaster preparedness, response and recovery organization, over a three-year term.

## APHA members named to EPA board

In August, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced new members of its Science Advisory Board. Among those appointed were APHA members Marjorie Aelion, PhD; Kristi Pullen-Fedinick, PhD; and Jonathan Samet, MD, MS. Aelion and Pullen-Fedinick are new appointees, while Samet had previously served on the EPA board.

## Lipsitch, George lead new CDC center

In August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new disease forecasting center and its leadership. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, the new Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics aims to accelerate access to and use of public health data to mitigate emerging threats. Marc Lipsitch, DPhil, will serve as director for science; Dylan George, PhD, director for operations; Caitlin Rivers, PhD, MPH, associate director; and Rebecca Kahn, PhD, MS, senior scientist.

## Volberg recognized

In July, Rachel Volberg, PhD, was recognized by the National Council on Problem Gambling with the 2021 Lifetime Research Award. Volberg was recognized for her early leadership in the gambling studies field. Volberg began her career in the 1980s, studying the impact of the introduction of casinos to Massachusetts.

## Hollie named director

In July, Sara Hollie, MPH, was named director of the St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Department. Hollie joined the department in 2019 and has led work on advancing racial and health equity. Her appointment began July 26.

## Dugas named director

In August, Josh Dugas was named director of San Bernardino County, California, Department of Public Health. Dugas has served the county for two decades, joining the health department as an environmental health specialist. Dugas most recently served as the assistant public health director.

## Murphy named VP

In August, Michael Murphy was named vice president for communications at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Murphy previously led strategic communications, community engagement, public affairs and issues management at the Cleveland Foundation. His tenure will begin Oct. 4.

## APHA welcomes new leadership

A number of staff changes were announced at APHA this summer. Demond McWilliams is the new director of APHA membership services and Joseph Bremner is now director of strategic communications and marketing. Bremner previously served as APHA’s deputy director for marketing.

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