Newsmakers: October 2025

Sophia Meador

Friedman named associate dean

APHA member Daniela Friedman, PhD, was named associate dean for research and leadership development at the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health in August. Freidman, a professor in the Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, has served in an interim role for over a year.

Gebo named dean

APHA member Kelly Gebo, MD, MPH, was appointed dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University in July. She will also serve as a professor of epidemiology. Previously, Gebo served as a professor at Johns Hopkins University in the School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Goodman named dean

APHA member Melody Goodman, PhD, MPH, was named dean of the New York University School of Global Public Health in August. Goodman has served in the role on an interim basis since 2024.

LaRose named chair

APHA member Jessica LaRose, PhD, was named chair of the Department of Social and Behavior Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health in August. LaRose has served in the role at an interim capacity since 2023.

McGinnis awarded

APHA member Perry Halkitis, PhD, MPH, was recognized with the J. Michael McGinnis Leadership Excellence Award in August. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers University School of Public Health, was awarded for his work to confront health disparities and champion equity.

Tallon appointed associate editor

APHA member Lindsay Tallon, PhD, MSPH, was appointed associate editor of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice in July. Tallon is an associate professor of public health at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science.

Archer appointed associate director

Kristin Archer, PhD, DPT, was appointed associate director for strategy and innovation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Institute for Population and Public Health in August. In her new role, Archer will work to build relationships to further the interest of the institute.

Colfax named director

Grant Colfax, MD, was appointed director of Contra County Health in California in August. Most recently, Colfax served as director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Kaushal named associated dean

Rainu Kaushal, MD, MPH, was named senior associate dean of health science at Weill Cornell Medicine in August. In her new role, Kaushal will work to improve patient outcomes with data science.

Malaty Rivera named board member

Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, was appointed to the scientific advisory board at the Accountability Journalism Institute in July. Malaty Rivera serves as a research fellow at Boston Children's Hospital Innovation and is a digital health accelerator and senior advisor at the deBeaumont Foundation.

Moreno-Peraza appointed director

Connie Moreno-Peraza, MSW, was appointed director of Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency in California in July. Moreno-Peraza comes to the role from Ventura County's Health Care Agency, where she served as assistant director for behavioral health.

Morgan named director

Jennifer Morgan was named director of development at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions in August. Morgan was previously director of development at the University of South Florida.

Olowokure named associate dean

Babatunde Olowokure, MD, MPH, PhD, was named associate dean for global health at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health in August. He will also serve as professor in the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. Previously, Olowokure served as regional emergency director for the World Health Organization in the Western Pacific.

Ramirez appointed secretary

Angela Ramirez was appointed secretary of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services in August. Most recently, Ramirez served as chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Stebbins named director

Carla Ann Stebbins, PhD, MHA, was named director of the Master of Health Administration program at Texas A&M University School of Public Health in July. She will also serve as an instructional professor. Previously, Stebbins served as associate professor and director of the graduate Health Care Administration program at Texas Woman's University

Thomaskutty appointed director

Champ Thomaskutty, MPH, was appointed director of Whatcom County Health and Community Service in Washington state in August. Thomaskutty had served as deputy health officer for the Calvert County Health Department in Maryland since 2017.