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Rima Nakkash appointed chair of 911��'s Department of Global and Community Health

Mary Cunningham — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:50:21 +0000

Rima Nakkash appointed chair of 911��'s Department of Global and Community Health Mary Cunningham Thu, 06/18/2026 - 13:50

Internationally recognized prevention scientist and global health leader to guide the department's next phase of growth, innovation, and impact.

Rima Nakkash, Chair, Department of Global and Community Health. Photo by Rene Ayala.

911��'s College of Public Health has appointed Rima Nakkash as Chair of the Department of Global and Community Health following a national search.

A nationally and internationally respected scholar in prevention science, global health, and public health policy, Nakkash brings a distinguished record of academic leadership, research excellence, and community engagement to the role. She has served as interim chair since 2024 and has been a member of the 911�� faculty since 2021.

"Dr. Nakkash is an internationally respected scholar whose work exemplifies the future of public health—bridging research, policy, prevention, and community impact," said Melissa Perry, inaugural dean of the College of Public Health. "She has already played a pivotal role in advancing the college's mission, from strengthening our academic programs and accreditation efforts to expanding our global engagement and research impact. I am excited for her continued leadership of the Department of Global and Community Health as we prepare the next generation of public health leaders and address the complex health challenges facing communities around the world."

Since joining 911��, Nakkash has emerged as a key leader within the college. As interim chair, she led the department through its first comprehensive self-study, expanded faculty recruitment efforts, strengthened student engagement initiatives, and advanced faculty mentoring and development. She has also contributed significantly to several of the college's most important accomplishments, including strategic planning, the successful achievement of CEPH accreditation, and the establishment of the MPH Office, which has enhanced coordination, student support, and academic excellence across public health programs.

As chair, Nakkash will lead a department dedicated to preparing future public health professionals and researchers to address some of society's most pressing challenges, including chronic disease prevention, health equity, global health, behavioral health, environmental health, and community resilience. Her appointment comes as the college advances strategic priorities in research excellence, student success, community impact, workforce development, and global engagement.

Nakkash's research focuses on prevention science, youth health, mental health promotion, tobacco control, public health policy, and the commercial determinants of health. Her work emphasizes community-engaged approaches and translating evidence into policies and interventions that improve population health outcomes, particularly among youth, marginalized communities, and refugee populations.

She currently leads a robust portfolio of externally funded research and has authored nearly 130 peer-reviewed publications. Her scholarship has informed public health practice and policy globally, particularly in the areas of tobacco control and prevention. She also coordinates the Global Commercial Determinants of Health Action Network, an international collaboration of more than 150 scholars and practitioners working to better understand how commercial forces shape population health.

Before joining 911��, Nakkash served on the faculty of the American University of Beirut, where she held multiple leadership positions, including coordinator of the Tobacco Control Research Group, co-director of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking Knowledge Hub, associate director of the Knowledge to Policy Center, and founder of the Public Health Education Office. Her leadership contributed to curriculum innovation, faculty development, accreditation readiness, and the strengthening of public health education programs.

Nakkash holds a Doctor of Public Health degree from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and is widely recognized for her contributions to prevention science, implementation research, and public health policy.

As chair, she will continue advancing the department's mission to improve health and well-being through education, research, practice, and community engagement while helping position 911�� as a national leader in public health innovation and workforce development.

Learn more about Nakkash here.

Learn more about the Department of Global and Community Health here.

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Rima Nakkash, DrPH, MPH

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Faculty and Staff News

Ali Weinstein elected as a Fellow in the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:33:20 +0000

Ali Weinstein elected as a Fellow in the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research Taylor Thomas Mon, 04/07/2025 - 10:33

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Ali Weinstein, PhD

Ali Weinstein, Global and Community Health professor and senior scholar in the Center for Advancement of Well-Being, has been elected as a Fellow in the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. She was selected for her outstanding contributions in the field of behavioral health research, which includes her specialized expertise in chronic illness and mental health. Weinstein has been recognized by various other public health associations, including the Society for Health Psychology for her expertise.

“Behavior is a key determinant of health,” Weinstein said about the importance of behavioral medicine. “The insights gained in behavioral medicine provide insight for public health interventions. Many interventions like smoking cessation and stress management programs are rooted in behavioral medicine and then implemented through public health initiatives.”

Weinstein studies fatigue across various chronic illnesses such as liver disease and cancer. Currently, she is conducting research on breast cancer survivors and their lived experiences with fatigue following treatment and remission. She has extensive experience conducting human biobehavioral experiments in the laboratory and field, conducts survey research, as well as a small research portfolio of qualitative research.

She was recognized as the 2023 Society for Health Psychology (SfHP) (Division 38 of the American Psychological Association (APA)) Volunteer of the Year. In 2024, she was elected to the executive committee of the SfHP.

The Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research was established to connect like-minded scholars and researchers in the interdisciplinary field of behavioral medicine. Weinstein will be presenting her research on fatigue in June at an Academy conference.

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Dean Melissa Perry appointed to prestigious National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:03:16 +0000

Dean Melissa Perry appointed to prestigious National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee Mary Cunningham Mon, 03/17/2025 - 12:03

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Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA

Melissa J. Perry, dean of 911��’s College of Public Health, has been appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Clinical Follow-Up and Care for Those Impacted by the JP-5 Releases at Red Hill. Her expertise in occupational health and environmental epidemiology will help inform clinical recommendations for the 93,000 employees exposed to toxic aviation fuel at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in 2021.

Melissa J. Perry. Photo provided

As a widely respected researcher and public health leader, Perry has spent her career examining the impact of environmental exposures on health and developing strategies for disease prevention. A highly cited scholar, she has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed studies and contributed to national policy discussions on occupational and environmental health.

As the inaugural dean of Virginia’s first College of Public Health, Perry has been a driving force in advancing integrative health, immersive technologies in education, and interdisciplinary collaboration, establishing the College as a national leader in public health research and training. Under her leadership, the College is on track to become the first in Virginia accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and is home to the nation’s only Society for Simulation in Healthcare-accredited immersive learning lab within a school or college of public health.

In addition to her scholarly contributions, Perry is a past president of the American College of Epidemiology, has chaired multiple federal scientific advisory committees, and was elected a fellow of the prestigious Collegium Ramazzini for her pioneering work in occupational and environmental health. Her expertise has been featured in national and international media on topics ranging from pesticides and fertility to toxins in school lunches and virtual reality in public health education.

Her appointment to this prestigious National Academies committee is an opportunity to contribute to national efforts addressing complex environmental health challenges and reflects her ongoing commitment to improving public health through research, policy, and education.

Perry holds a Doctor of Science and Master of Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins University School.

The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine are committed to providing independent, objective analysis, and advice to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The committee will recommend guidance on clinical actions that can be taken to monitor the health of community members exposed during the November 2021 release of Jet Propellant 5 (JP-5) aviation fuel from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility into the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water distribution system.

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Rima Nakkash appointed chair of 911����'s Department of Global and Community Health

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Rima Nakkash appointed chair of 911��'s Department of Global and Community Health