Shira Shafir appointed Associate Dean of MPH Programs at UCLA Fielding
Shafir will provide overarching strategic, academic, and administrative leadership for the school-wide Master of Public Health degree.
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Professor Shira Shafir (PhD ‘06) has been appointed associate dean of MPH programs, effective October 1.
In her role as associate dean of MPH programs for UCLA Fielding, Shafir will provide overarching strategic, academic, and administrative leadership for the school-wide Master of Public Health degree. This position bridges departmental faculty, administrative units, and external accreditation bodies to elevate academic excellence, streamline operational efficiency, and drive continuous programmatic innovation. Shafir will work under the direct mentorship of Professor Sudipto Banerjee, senior associate dean of UCLA Fielding.
At UCLA Fielding, Shafir holds faculty appointments in both the Department of Community Health Sciences and the Department of Epidemiology. Since 2018, she has also served as director of the MPH for Health Professionals (MPH|HP) degree program in the Department of Community Health Sciences.
Four years in a row, Shafir was voted professor of the year by FSPH’s Public Health Student Association (2010-2013) and has developed and taught numerous courses over the years including “Fundamentals of Public Health” and “Principles of Epidemiology.” Her previous professional roles at FSPH include director of field studies for the Department of Epidemiology; faculty assistant vice chancellor for research for UCLA Responsible Conduct of Research; and senior manager of the infectious disease program at FSPH’s UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters. And during Shafir’s time as a doctoral student at UCLA Fielding, she was twice voted teaching assistant of the year by FSPH’s Public Health Students. Beyond UCLA, Shafir has served as vice president of Giving, Social Innovation and Impact at TOMS Shoes and acting head of research and evaluation for The Trevor Project.
“Shira’s unwavering commitment to the education and support of our students is the perfect foundation for the work she will do to lead the coordination of our school’s MPH degree programs,” said Dr. Kari Nadeau, dean of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. “An alum of our school and faculty member in two of our academic departments, Shira has experience and expertise that make her uniquely suited for this position.”
In Shafir’s new role as associate dean, she will work as the primary representative and champion for the school-wide MPH program with faculty and staff colleagues across all five academic departments and administrative offices, and beyond.
“I’m delighted to step into this role and work closely with colleagues and students across UCLA Fielding and beyond,” Shafir said. “Teaching and mentoring students is my favorite — and the most important — part of what I do. To lead and provide strategic oversight for the MPH programs at UCLA Fielding, my alma mater and professional home for decades, is truly an honor.”
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