Message from the Dean

Greetings from Kari Nadeau, new dean of UCLA Fielding
 

It is an honor to begin service today as dean of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and to join your community. Thank you for the many ways you have already made me feel welcome — I am thrilled to be part of UCLA Fielding.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Ron Brookmeyer. His remarkable legacy as dean includes years of thoughtful stewardship that have strengthened and expanded UCLA Fielding’s foundation and global reputation. We owe him a profound debt for his steady, science-driven leadership during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Above all, his unwavering commitment to supporting, mentoring, and championing our students will inspire my own leadership moving forward.

UCLA Fielding was founded to build health and equity and to drive positive change for all people, and the school carries out that mission through education, discovery, and service. That mission speaks directly to the public health work that has guided my career for decades — using science, partnership, and education in service of people and communities. UCLA Fielding also has a long history of translating research into action and policy through partnerships with local, state, national and global agencies, community organizations, and leaders in public health. That practical, community-connected tradition is one of the reasons UCLA Fielding is so respected, and one of the many reasons it is such a privilege to join you.

My approach for the role of dean is grounded in a simple belief: Public health is strongest when excellence and accountability go together. I look forward to working with faculty, students, staff, and alumni to support community engagement, to promote research and training programs, to mentor faculty and trainees, to strengthen educational pathways, to enhance communications for public health, and to develop partnerships that connect academic work to community needs. Those values will continue to guide the work ahead at FSPH with UCLA, Los Angeles, government officials, and the public.

Some of my priorities will include the following areas:

Transparent Leadership and Shared Governance: Partnering closely with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community stakeholders, I am deeply committed to shared governance and inclusive excellence.  Strong institutions move forward when people are heard, when decisions are communicated clearly, and when shared purpose is matched by shared responsibility.

Supporting Our Community: Another priority will be to support the people who make UCLA Fielding exceptional. Faculty, staff, students, trainees, alumni, and community collaborators are the foundation of the school’s impact. I plan to work with students, alumni, and our team to create new and sustained pathways for careers in public health. My plan is to help create conditions in which people can do their best work, learn from one another, and contribute fully to the school’s mission.

Fostering Interdisciplinary Connections: Building bridges across UCLA, the University of California system, the Los Angeles region, and beyond will be a central focus. I will also work with you to deepen community partnerships in the region. In practice, this means building more bridges between research and policy, between campuses and communities, and between the classroom and the real-world settings where public health decisions are made.

Sustainable and Bold Support: Robust resources are necessary to support students and staff, to enable and retain faculty, for community engagement, to invest in research and education infrastructure, and to respond agilely to emerging public health and school needs. There remains considerable funding uncertainty in higher education and in public health; this is a real challenge and calls for diversified revenue. My commitment is to pursue support in a way that enhances academic excellence in scholarship and teaching, strengthens public trust, and keeps the mission of public health and of our school at the forefront.

Thank you for welcoming this new chapter — partnering with you to build a lasting public health legacy is a distinct privilege. I am excited to begin listening, learning, and working alongside all of you.

With shared purpose, humility, and boldness, UCLA Fielding will continue to lead in ways that improve lives across Los Angeles, California, our nation, and the world.

With warmest regards,
Kari

Kari Nadeau
Dean
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health