Topic: Higher Ed

The beginning and end of Monday Morning

Since November 26, 2007, I have published 524 blog posts, including this, my final post.

Students

Celebrating Commencement 2022

I love commencements, because they are all about our wonderful students and the people who join to celebrate them.

Public Health

Starting spring semester remotely

At the Gillings School, we had intended to be residential for spring semester from the start, but as we moved steadily toward the first day of classes, it became urgent that we re-examine our plans. Given the transmissibility of the omicron variant, we decided – under conditions of uncertainty -- to err on the side of caution by starting with three weeks of remote instruction.

Public Health

Public health practice is important for schools of public health

In a cycle that often starts with practice and leads to research that improves practice, close collaboration with people in communities results in scalable public health solutions that improve lives.

Public Health

The pandemic and the need for empathy

After 18 months of uncertainty, loss and pain, it feels as though all the world is on edge. To get through this, we must tap into our reserves of empathy and find ways to help ease each other's -- and our own -- stress.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

A letter to BIPOC faculty, staff and students

We are following our Inclusive Excellence Action Plan to be an anti-racist school – a place where BIPOC students, faculty and staff thrive.

Nikole Hannah-Jones' tenure application at UNC-Chapel Hill matters

It's past time for Carolina's BOT to do the right thing in the Nikole Hannah-Jones tenure matter.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

Black History Month: Time to advance racial equity

This post is mostly for white people who grew up, as I did, with whitewashed views of American history.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

A hero dies too young

Chadwick Boseman exemplified courage and dedication to purpose more lasting than ourselves.

North Carolina

Campus decisions: who makes them, with what consequences and when to change them?

Decision making about whether to reopen a UNC System campus to residential students, especially students in dorms, is a complicated multi-layered process.

Global

Eleventh-hour policy targeting international students is unjust

This post is adapted from a July 9 letter to the Gillings School community that was endorsed by most members of the Gillings School of Global Public Health’s Dean’s Council. The text here reflects substantial revisions to the letter text. The opinions are mine, and I take responsibility for any errors or omissions.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

The pandemic rages, days blend and springtime is sweet in Chapel Hill

During this devastating pandemic, our collective commitments to excellence in public health, equity and compassion inspire and connect us.

The passing of two remarkable faculty members

Phil Singer and Travis Johnson were optimists who believed much could be done if we worked at it. Each in his own way made the world a better place.

Students walk across the stage at the 2019 Gillings School Spring Commencement.

Public Health

Congratulations, winter graduates!

Since becoming dean in 2005, I have participated in many commencements. All were different, and I loved them all, especially those for the Gillings School.

The sun shines on a forest surrounded by mountains.

Environment

Happy Three Zeros Day

Net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions are UNC-Chapel Hill’s three sustainability goals for an integrated approach to reducing its environmental footprint.

Government

Support the free press

The New York Times on Sept. 23 carried the text of a speech by publisher A. G. Sulzberger, given at Brown University, titled, “The Growing Threat to Journalism Around the World.” He documented how, in multiple countries, journalists are being threatened, harassed, thrown in jail without due process, intimidated, kidnapped, tortured and killed. He attributed...

Public Health

New academic year, great new students, same global challenges

The Gillings School has some of the greatest public health students anywhere. I love meeting our students during the first week of classes, when they are new and ready for the public health adventure.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

Zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment

I’m proud that our Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health ASPPH has a new policy that states that we have zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment. As the organization that represents academic public health, our commitment to zero tolerance is important. It also should be a message to any faculty or staff member whose behavior is less than honorable. Zero tolerance means no tolerance.

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Topics

Topic: Higher Ed

The beginning and end of Monday Morning

Celebrating Commencement 2022

Starting spring semester remotely

Public health practice is important for schools of public health

The pandemic and the need for empathy

A letter to BIPOC faculty, staff and students

Nikole Hannah-Jones' tenure application at UNC-Chapel Hill matters

Black History Month: Time to advance racial equity

A hero dies too young

Campus decisions: who makes them, with what consequences and when to change them?

Eleventh-hour policy targeting international students is unjust

The pandemic rages, days blend and springtime is sweet in Chapel Hill

The passing of two remarkable faculty members

Congratulations, winter graduates!

Happy Three Zeros Day

Support the free press

New academic year, great new students, same global challenges

Zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment

What's Popular

Racism is a public health crisis

Black lives matter

All is not well in America

Guns and threats of violence have no place on this campus