David Hunter named acting Harvard Chan School dean

Excerpted from a May 19, 2015 message by Harvard President Drew Faust to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health community:

As you know, Julio Frenk recently announced his plans to step down as dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health this August [2015] in order to become president of the University of Miami. Julio’s leadership has greatly benefited the school, and I am deeply committed to identifying an outstanding successor to guide the school forward.

I am pleased to let you know that David Hunter, Dean for Academic Affairs and the Vincent L. Gregory Professor in Cancer Prevention, has kindly agreed to serve as acting dean from the time Julio takes office in Miami (August 16) until a new dean is in place. As many of you know, David is a deeply experienced and much-admired faculty member who has played an essential role in the School’s recent accomplishments.

Following Harvard’s usual practice, I have invited a cross-section of the Harvard Chan School’s senior faculty to work with me as an advisory group for the dean’s search, including several faculty members who have joint or primary appointments in other parts of Harvard.

I encourage you to send me your observations and nominations, in confidence, by e-mail to sphdeansearch@harvard.edu or by letter addressed to me at Massachusetts Hall. I will read all your thoughts with interest and care.