Posted 9/09/2008

Changes will increase efficiency, responsiveness, Chandler says

Dr. Tom Chandler has agreed to serve another year as acting dean of the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health.

Chandler said a new national ad campaign has begun seeking a fresh slate of candidates for the school’s top post. He said he hopes the administration fills the job before then, but he will continue to serve until late August 2009.

Chandler took the interim assignment in September 2007, after former Dean Dr. Donna Richter became executive director of the South Carolina Public Health Institute.

Chandler also announced that Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Greg Hand will become associate dean for research and practice. Additionally, Executive Associate Dean Dr. Cheryl Addy will become senior associate dean for academic affairs.

The changes were announced shortly before Associate Dean for Research Dr. Marjorie Aelion accepted an offer to become dean of the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Chandler said the changes should move “the administration of the school toward what I hope will be greater efficiency and better responsiveness to faculty and staff needs.”

Hand’s new responsibilities will include directing the Office of Research, the Office of Public Health Practice, and the Information Technology Group. Through December 2008, he also will continue to direct the school’s new undergraduate program in public health.

“It is my hope that ultimately this program will become sufficiently self supporting to allow hiring of an undergraduate program director in the near future,” Chandler said.

Addy’s new duties will include directing the Office of Student and Alumni Services and the Office of Academic Affairs. She also will lead the school’s efforts to achieve another full re-accreditation under the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) over the next 18 months.

CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit schools of public health.