Announcing my decision to step down as dean in 2025
Dear Colleagues,
I write today to share the news that I will be stepping down as dean on June 30, 2025. It is not easy for me to part ways with this role that I have come to love so much. But I am confident that the time is right for a transition, and I am excited to prepare for new leadership. I was honored to be named dean in 2017, and the past several years have been an incredible privilege and the highlight of my career. Together, we have grown our School, deepened its mission, and brought the power of public health to many more people.
Of course, this decision is bittersweet for me. My time at the Bloomberg School has shaped my life. I first arrived as a student more than 50 years ago and became an assistant professor in 1980. I built my entire career here, and for decades, I’ve had the great fortune of taking part in mission-driven, deeply collaborative public health work. This culminated in the life-changing experience of being your dean.
It is amazing to think back to 2018, when we launched a new strategic plan, built on the principle that public health must relentlessly adapt and meet the moment. We could not have imagined then what the coming years would bring. Our world was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic and by a long-overdue reckoning with inequity, racism, and social injustice. I have never felt prouder than on the most difficult days, when I saw us come together and use our strengths to serve the School and the world. Supported by our strong foundation and our plan, we blazed new and challenging trails, focusing our attention and directing our work on the power of education, science, partnerships, people, and advocacy.
As we look to the tremendous challenges we face—from environmental threats to emerging infectious diseases to health inequities—we must press forward with even greater urgency. The work ahead will be difficult, but you have the intellect, the ambition, and the heart needed to face it head on. I am excited to welcome a new dean who will be ready to lead you in the ongoing pursuit of better health for all—someone who has vision, commitment, and a deep belief in the amazing potential of our people and the Bloomberg School.
The University will soon provide details about the search committee, along with ways for members of the School community to contribute their suggestions during the process. I encourage you to share your ideas about our path forward.
I will remain on the faculty after stepping down, and I am excited to consider exactly what I will focus on next. No matter what direction I take, I will be cheering you on as you continue to protect health and save lives—millions at a time.
It remains the greatest honor of my life to call you my colleagues and my friends. We have achieved a great deal together, and in the coming months, we will have the opportunity to reflect on the past, celebrate our accomplishments, and plan for the future. For now, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support of the School and its mission. Your partnership has meant the world to me.
I look forward to one more vibrant academic year ahead as your dean. There is still much to be done, and I am eager to continue our work together.
With hope and excitement for what waits ahead,
Ellen
Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD '79, ScM '75
Dean
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor