Dean, School of Public Health

The University of Alberta (UofA) invites applications for the appointment of Dean, School of Public Health.

As Dean, you will be a collaborative leader that will engage with the faculty, staff, and students to understand the current strategic plan, programs, and momentum and continue to support that direction of the School. You will have been a scholar who has maintained an active program in research and teaching within an academic environment. You will be an educator who has a demonstrated record of excellence in teaching, who innovates teaching practices and mentorship, and who has maintained an active mentorship of students and colleagues while holding an administrative position within an academic environment. You will also have demonstrated knowledge of the scholarship of public health education and of approaches to instructor development to improve student experience. At a minimum, a Doctorate or equivalent in public health or related field is required and qualifications commensurate with an appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor.  With an authentic and demonstrated commitment to, understanding of, and experience leading equity, diversity, and inclusion practices and Indigenous engagement, the successful candidate will drive change and inspire faculty, students, staff, and community partners. You must reside, or be willing and able to relocate to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for this role.

The University of Alberta (U of A) has risen to rank among the world’s top 100 universities in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. Ranked 4th in Canada and 96th in the world, (U of A) is a teaching and research institution with a long history of excellence. What continues to unite us all is our commitment to inspire the human spirit through excellence in learning, discovery, and citizenship. Many recent advancements illustrate our community’s commitment to addressing complex global challenges: diversifying our energy industry, delivering vaccines to the world, and coming together across disciplines to create a more equitable and just society.

The University is home to over 44,000 students from 156 countries and 15,000 faculty and staff with over 300,000 alumni worldwide. The U of A has an annual budget of more than $1.9 billion that attracts over $600 million in annual sponsored research funding. It offers over 200 undergraduate, and over 500 graduate programs within 3 colleges and 17 faculties (including the only Faculty of Native Studies in North America) on five campuses – including one rural and one francophone campus. The main campus is situated adjacent to the spectacular North Saskatchewan River Valley and is less than a four-hour drive to the Rocky Mountains.

Under the leadership of the University’s 14th President and Vice Chancellor, Bill Flanagan, the University of Alberta continues to move forward with purpose as one of the world’s most respected public universities. Driving our excellence are two factors. First, a desire for continual self-improvement as evidenced, most recently, by a campus-wide academic and administrative restructuring. Second, our exceptional community of talented people – students, faculty, and staff – who with their creativity, ingenuity and drive, join in advancing human knowledge and pursuing scientific discovery for the benefit of all. The University seeks to foster an inclusive culture in which people excel through exchange and collaboration, enriched by the diversity of individuals, groups, disciplines, perspectives, approaches, and questions that characterize its community.

The College of Health Sciences brings together the combined strength of all U of A’s health sciences faculties and schools, enabling a new level of interdisciplinary health science research and teaching that advances the full spectrum of human health and wellness in individuals and communities around the world. The college includes 6 faculties (Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Medicine and Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health, and Rehabilitation Medicine), more than 770 faculty members, and more than 7,200 graduate, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows.

The School of Public Health (SPH) at the University of Alberta aims to provide excellent training experiences for all students, with strong theoretical foundations rich in experiential learning. Educational programs are focused on training public health professionals at the graduate level through course-based master’s degrees in community engagement and public health, as well as thesis-based masters and PhD programs for students interested in developing research skills. In addition to these programs, SPH is working to expand their public health education for undergraduate students.

SPH has a strong ethos of engaged scholarship, leading with purpose and working in partnership to address grand challenges. Through collaborative efforts, their innovative research will continue to address critical issues by generating evidence to inform policies that affect the health of its communities and reflect the diverse aspects of public health.

Reporting to the College Dean and Vice-Provost, College of Health Sciences, the Dean of the School of Public Health is responsible for the supervision and administration of all operations of the school, including budget and fund development. In addition to the role of senior officer of the school, and a member of the Deans’ Council, the Dean is a senior administrator of the University. The Dean fosters an environment in which world-leading research and excellence in teaching and engaged scholarship flourish. As the face of the School of Public Health, the Dean is champion of public health education, research and practice, and leads the school in sustaining and continuing its critical role with stakeholders in public health dialogue.