Drexel University School of Public Health

Chair and Arthur L. and Joanne B. Frank Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

The Dornsife School of Public Health invites applications for the position of Chair in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH). This appointment is expected to be with tenure at the associate or full professor level.  Candidates will also be evaluated for the Arthur L. and Joanne B. Frank Endowed Professorship based on outstanding research contributions in EOH and alignment with the priorities and needs of the school and department. This Endowed Professorship is awarded for a 3-year period, renewable for 2 additional years.

Qualifications: We seek an innovative leader and scholar to provide vision for the expansion of disciplinary and interdisciplinary educational programs, research portfolio, and impact of the Department.  Candidates must have a record of demonstrated experience in teaching and mentorship in environmental justice, environmental health, exposure science, occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, work environment, infectious disease prevention and control, climate science, urban health, regulation and policy, or related areas. Candidates should have a record of strong scholarship and demonstrated success building a program of externally funded research. Competitive candidates will have demonstrated potential for leadership that advances the department and the school in mission-aligned activity, including innovative research, meaningful practice and community-engagement partnerships, and student-centered educational activities. Required qualifications are a doctoral degree (PhD, DrPh, MD, or equivalent degree) and professional status and scholarship appropriate for a tenured associate or full professor.

We seek candidates who will uphold our values of placing diversity, equity and inclusion among our priorities, and who are committed to upholding our School’s mission of reducing health disparities, promoting health in all policies, and valuing health as a human right. The candidate should have a track record of scientific reputation and accomplishment, commitment to mentorship and education, openness to meeting diverse needs of individuals within the department, and prior leadership experience. We welcome the unique perspectives and contributions that each person can bring to our community by their race or ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, immigrant status, and ability/disability status.

Responsibilities: The EOH Department Chair will be responsible for overall leadership of the Department and will work collaboratively with other DSPH leaders and the Dean in charting the future growth and development of the department and the school. The specific duties within the Department will include: management and financial oversight; faculty recruitment, mentoring, and evaluation; oversight, development, and growth of educational programs, including expanding existing programs; engaging in activities that enhance the scientific contributions and external visibility of the Department and the School; and continue to develop their own externally funded research program, as well as, collaborating with and mentoring others in the development of the externally funded research portfolio for the Department and the School. A major goal for the Department is to enhance revenue from educational programs and externally funded research.

Department Overview: The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health has 15 primary and 9 affiliate faculty.  Degree programs offered include an MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health, an MPH in Urban Health, an MS in Infection Control and Prevention, and a PhD in Environmental and Occupational Health. The department also offers graduate and undergraduate minors. It is home to The Center for Firefighter Injury Research & Safety Trends (FIRST) and the Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication.  Other relevant Centers at the Dornsife School of Public Health that may be synergistic with the work of the department include the school-wide Urban Health Collaborative and the Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements and Population Health Equity.  The Chair will advance the department’s mission by expanding research activities, attracting and mentoring quality faculty, aligning the educational programs, operations, and leadership within strategic directions of the school and university. 

Dornsife School of Public Health: The Dornsife School of Public Health is ranked #18th among schools and programs nationwide. It is a diverse, urban school of public health with a unique commitment to public health practice and experiential learning. Founded on the principle of health as a human right, the Dornsife School focuses on many public health areas but has a special commitment to improving health in cities, eliminating health inequities, and translating evidence into actions. The Dornsife School is committed to anti-racism and to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for faculty, staff and students. The School of Public Health is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community.

Drexel University: Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Drexel University is an urban, R1-level global research university where transdisciplinary and applied research that addresses society’s most pressing challenges is valued.  We seek to be the most civically engaged university in the country, with many partnerships with the neighboring West Philadelphia Promise Zone.  From its inception, Drexel’s mission has centered on accessible education for all, without restrictions on the basis of religion, race, gender, or socioeconomic status.  Our nearly 13,000 undergraduate and more than 7,000 graduate students prepare to become purpose-driven professionals through immersive experiential learning. 

Drexel University is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community of scholars and learners where all can thrive.  The work of our university-wide Anti-Racism Task Force helped us earn an INSIGHT into Diversity magazine 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award.  Our benefits and promotion of workplace wellness helped us secure a position among Forbes’ 2023 list of Pennsylvania’s best employers. 

Drexel University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Philadelphia: As the sixth largest, and one of the oldest cities in the nation, Philadelphia is rich in diversity, history, and culinary and cultural amenities, yet remains affordable compared with other Northeast cities.  In 2023, Lonely Planet ranked Philadelphia the best city in the country to visit. Regional railway and SEPTA bus and subway lines ease local commuting.  Philadelphia International Airport and the third-busiest Amtrak hub in the nation provide easy access to U.S. and global destinations.      

Application and Inquiries: Interested candidates should apply online, completing required fields and uploading a CV and cover letter addressing selection criteria for the endowed professorship and qualifications for this chair position.  Applications and resumes will not be accepted via direct email.  Confidential informal queries are also welcome to Gina S. Lovasi who serves as Dana and David Dornsife Dean (gsl45@drexel.edu).  Applications will be accepted until a successful candidate has been identified, with applicant review anticipated to begin in September 2024.