School of Public Health

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102

Position Announcement

Chair, Department of Community Health and Prevention

Position Overview:

The Drexel University School of Public Health is seeking an experienced and dynamic public health professional with academic/administrative experience to lead the Department of Community Health and Prevention. The department is strongly committed to human rights, social justice and community engagement, incorporating these values into the curriculum and program objectives of the DrPH and MPH degree tracks. The department has a well-developed research and public health practice agenda grounded in serving vulnerable populations, adopting community-based participatory research methodology to address public health concerns in youth, HIV/AIDS, LGBT health and tobacco-related chronic diseases. The Department Chair reports to the Dean, serves on the School’s leadership team, and manages departmental fiscal and human resources to foster excellence in education, research and service. The successful candidate will have a well-developed research program and will be expected to continue scholarly and educational pursuits.

Drexel University, School of Public Health – Overview

Among Drexel University’s eleven Schools and Colleges is the only accredited School of Public Health in the Philadelphia region, located in Center City Philadelphia.  The School of Public Health is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health and is a full member of the Association of Schools of Public Health. Its mission is to promote the health of communities through an integrated program of education, research, service and practice with an emphasis on the importance of the connection between human rights and health status. The SPH covers the five core concentrations of Public Health through four academic Departments: Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health Management and Policy and Community Health and Prevention. The School has experienced tremendous growth over the past five years in enrollment, research expenditures and academic offerings. School-wide research includes excellence in autism epidemiology, the relationship between place and chronic disease, governmental public health management, the study and prevention of hunger among children, innovative strategies and policies to prevent intentional violence, occupational safety research, impact of public health law, cardiac disease epidemiology and more.

Drexel University – Overview

Drexel University is one of the 50 top private doctoral/research- intensive schools nationally, and is among the top five “Schools to Watch” in this year’s U.S. News and World Report.  Along with the School of Public Health, Drexel University is home to colleges of medicine, law, nursing and health professions, engineering, information technology, business, arts and sciences, media arts, and education - providing unique opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Philadelphia boasts internationally recognized historical and cultural attractions, award-winning restaurants, and diverse recreational activities.

Department Chair, Community Health and Prevention

Responsibilities:

The Department Chair reports to the Dean of the School and works with the Administrative Deans, three other Department Chairs and department faculty members.  Department Chair responsibilities include:

• Departmental management, administration and visionary leadership, including planning, budgeting, resource use, assessment, and staffing
• Development of new research and scholarship pursuits in collaboration with departmental faculty as a facilitator or mentor
• Maintenance of extant departmental research, service, educational and scholarly pursuits
• Engagement in community health and prevention efforts with impact at the local/state/national/global levels
• Ongoing development, assessment, and accreditation activities for the DrPH and MPH curricula
• Engagement in student recruitment, retention and success initiatives 
• Faculty recruitment, mentoring, advancement and assessment
• Development and maintenance of school and university-wide collaborative relationships, including development of joint degree programs, and departmental advocacy and service on school and university committees
• Advancement of the goals and objectives of the department and school through collaboration with Institutional Advancement, Student Life, Enrollment Management, Media Relations, and other institutional resources

Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in public health or a related field, with demonstrated competence in an area of public health.
• Achievements commensurate with appointment at Full Professor level, including a nationally recognized record of research and scholarship, a substantive publication record, considerable teaching experience, and a strong record of sponsored research in community health and prevention
• Experience with, and support for, collaborative relationships with community partners to improve the health of citizenry in the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond.
• Management experience in an academic environment plus documented, strong leadership skills in a climate of collaboration and support
• Ability to support and advance an interdisciplinary, diverse and inclusive curriculum, with knowledge of case-based learning a plus
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and/or service in community health and prevention.

Demonstrated commitment to contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and/or service in community health and prevention.

Drexel University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, members of minority groups, disabled individuals, and veterans.  Applications will be handled with strictest confidence.

Applicants should apply electronically to drexeljobs.com by clicking on “search postings,” then “faculty” under job category, and then “search.” Please upload a statement of interest, CV, and contact information for three references.  Review of electronic applications will begin Jan. 18, 2010 and will proceed until the position is filled. Questions may be directed to Janet Fleetwood, PhD, Search Committee Chair, at Janet.Fleetwood@drexel.edu or (215) 895-1827.