Dean’s Message
Welcome to the Joint School of Public Health. We hope you will join us as we embark on our mission of inspiring teaching, groundbreaking research, and meaningful community engagement.
The Joint School of Public Health at Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University brings together faculty, staff and students from the newly created Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University with dedication and expertise as the cornerstones of our institution. As the first and only joint school of public health in the Commonwealth of Virginia, we are building an environment of academic excellence, innovation, and collaboration to educate the next generation of public health workforce. Our newly formed two academic departments offer excellent scholarly expertise in core public health disciplines including Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health Behavior and Promotion, and Health Policy and Management. With this solid foundational capacity, the Joint School of Public Health will take bold steps to teach and research the future of social change through the lens of health equity and social determinants of health.
Most importantly, our integrated resources in the Joint School of Public Health give students and faculty myriad opportunities that would not be available to just one institution. Whether pursuing a graduate (PhD, MPH, MHA) or undergraduate (BSPH, BSEH) degree, receiving a certificate in public health studies, or engaging in community outreach through your practicum and hands-on service opportunities, we welcome all students who seek to further their education in public health. We also welcome talented and passionate individuals to join the workforce of our faculty and staff in collaborating with our community partners across multiple sectors to transform public health and better address complex health challenges faced by communities across the Hampton Roads region, in Virginia and elsewhere. I invite you to browse our people, programs, and initiatives on our website, visit us, or reach out with questions.
Thank you,
Li-Wu Chen, PhD, MHSA
Founding Dean and Professor
Joint School of Public Health at Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University
Joint School of Public Health
Explore our leadership and organizational chart to see how we’re structured to effectively address public health challenges and make a meaningful impact.