Christina Economos, professor, New Balance Chair in Childhood Nutrition, and chair of the Division of Nutrition Interventions, Communication, and Behavior Change at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, has been named dean ad interim of the Friedman School.
She earned her Ph.D. from the Friedman School in 1996 and brings to her role more than two decades of groundbreaking research and knowledge of the Friedman community.
Jean Mayer Professor Dariush Mozaffarian, the current dean of the school, has announced that he will temporarily step away from his role as dean during the upcoming fiscal year to serve as special advisor to the university provost and as Friedman School dean for policy.
In this new role, Mozaffarian will focus on translation and dissemination of scientific evidence into public awareness, policy, and innovation, including work to help inform the upcoming White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. He will also continue to lead his active research portfolio at the Friedman School. Mozaffarian will return to his role as dean in July 2023.
“Chris is an exceptional academic leader and strategic thinker with strong interpersonal skills and an action-oriented approach to her work,” said Caroline Genco, provost and senior vice president ad interim. “She has a keen sense of faculty and student needs and has experience bringing together interdisciplinary groups to address complex problems. I am confident that the Friedman School will thrive under her leadership as dean ad interim.”
“It is an honor to lead the school at this critical time in its history,” said Economos. “Friedman is home to rigorous interdisciplinary research that provides the science to inform policy change and improve health outcomes across the lifespan and around the world. I look forward to working in this new role with colleagues across the university and our inspiring community of faculty, staff, and students at Friedman in the coming year.”