Andrea A. Vaccarelli, professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University’s School of Public Health, will be the next dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, the school’s president, Claudine Gay, announced Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. Vaccarelli’s selection concludes the school’s 11-month search for a successor to President Michelle A. Williams, who resigned from the position at the end of June. Gay appointed health economics professor Jane J. Kim as interim dean in May as the search for the school’s next permanent leader continues.
Gay has filled all four dean vacancies he has inherited since being elected as the university’s 30th president in December 2022. The announcement also comes just one week after Gay said in an interview with The Crimson that the HSPH dean search was “nearing its conclusion.”
But Gay is still leading the search for two positions at Harvard, the university’s highest governing body, and a new dean for Harvard’s Kennedy School.
Vaccarelli said in an article in the Harvard Gazette, a publication published by Harvard University, that it is a “deep honor” to be named the next dean of HSPH.
“We are at a pivotal moment in the history of public health, facing challenges and opportunities.
“It requires collective action and innovative thinking,” he said. “Whether it’s the threat of pandemics, the complexities of mental health, or the multidimensional challenges posed by environmental and social determinants of health, new discoveries in artificial intelligence, data science, and human biology are bringing new challenges. No matter the opportunity, together we can create solutions and drive change. ”
“I look forward to teaching and learning alongside the dedicated students, trainees, staff, and faculty at the Chan School,” he added.
Mr. Vaccarelli, who was born and raised in Italy, will be no stranger to either Harvard or Longwood when he relocates from Manhattan to begin his term on January 1.
Before arriving at Columbia University, Mr. Vaccarelli was an associate professor of environmental health at HSPH from 2010 to 2016, and spent six years as an assistant professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Milan.
“I am thrilled to welcome Andrea Vaccarelli to Harvard University,” Gay told the Gazette.
“He has a clear understanding of the Chan School’s current challenges and new opportunities, a deep understanding of its culture and strengths, and a strong believer in contributing to local, national, and international conversations around improving public health and equity.・It brings a new perspective on how the school can contribute,” Gay said.
In 2020, Vaccarelli was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and currently serves as president of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology. Vaccarelli’s research also influenced the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to enact stricter guidelines for human exposure to air pollution, and he was featured in Web of Science’s annual Featured on the list of most influential and highly cited scientists.
University professor Alan M. Garber ’76, who co-led the study with Gay, also praised Baccarelli as “an outstanding scientist, educator, and leader.”
“He is known for both his interdisciplinary approach to research and his collaborative leadership style,” Gerber said in the Gazette. “I am confident that he will do great things in schools, universities, and public health.”
In an interview with the Gazette, Gay also praised Kim, who will remain interim dean until Baccarelli takes over in January.
“Jane continues her long track record of exceptional service to this community, and we are extremely grateful for her leadership as interim dean,” Gay said.
—Staff writer Miles J. Herzenhorn can be reached at miles.herszenhorn@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @mherszenhorn Or in the thread @mileshersz.
—Staff writer Claire Yuan can be reached at claire.yuan@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @claire ewan33.