Our mission remains clear
As this magazine reaches your mailboxes, we find ourselves nearing the end of a year marked by change, transition and—in some cases—significant upheaval. No matter where your career has taken you, you have undoubtedly felt the effects of these changes, and you are likely preparing to enter 2026 under circumstances vastly different from those at the start of 2025.
At the School of Public Health, we, too, have experienced profound change. I am one of those changes, having been named interim dean in June following F. DuBois Bowman’s appointment as president of Morehouse College. It is both an honor and a privilege to steward this school—my professional home for the past 20 years and the institution where I earned two degrees. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead and work collaboratively with our exceptional faculty and staff during this period of transition.
Our work itself has also evolved. We have been affected by shifting priorities at the federal level and have witnessed important research being cast aside, defunded and disparaged. While these cuts create personal and professional disruption for our community, we are most troubled by their negative impact on the countless people we serve—the public whose health and well-being remain at the center of our mission.
But in public health—as in life—we must persevere. Our school community is remarkably dynamic, and our extended alumni network is extraordinarily supportive. This gives me tremendous confidence in our ability to fulfill our mission despite significant headwinds. Even after more than two decades as part of Michigan Public Health, I continue to be surprised and inspired by our community’s resilience and innovation. That sense of discovery and possibility is part of the joy of belonging to such a vibrant academic community.
I hope that as you read these stories, you will be filled with pride at how our faculty, students, staff and alumni choose to rise to the moment and seek solutions, choose perseverance, and transform challenges into opportunities to make a real difference. In an era when expertise is questioned and scientific integrity faces challenges, our community demonstrates that rigorous scholarship, compassionate service, and commitment to the public good remain essential for meaningful, lasting impact.
Here’s to a year ahead filled with purpose and progress. Go Blue!
—Lynda Lisabeth