New deans for the Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health, the College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP) and the Pennoni Honors College have been named following national searches.
At the Dornsife School, Gina Lovasi, who had served as interim dean since the fall of 2023, was appointed dean in May 2024.
An expert in urban health who has published more than 140 peer-reviewed articles, Lovasi’s research draws on large datasets and local systematic data collection to address challenges around health disparities, cardiovascular disease and geographic environments.
Her work on the health impact of retail establishments, strategies to improve air quality and urban greenspaces is widely cited and has informed national and international policies.
In July 2024, Drexel tapped triple Dragon Neville Vakharia as dean of the Pennoni Honors College, succeeding Paula Cohen who returned to teaching after a decade leading the college.
Vakharia had been associate dean of research and planning and an associate professor of arts administration and museum leadership in the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.
His areas of teaching and expertise, which span strategic planning, social impact, entrepreneurship, information technology and more, align with the College’s role as an intellectual incubator for students and faculty interested in interdisciplinary teaching and learning.
And in September 2024, Emily Roper took the reins as dean of the CNHP. Roper came to Drexel from Sam Houston State University, where she served as dean of the College of Health Sciences and was known for her interest in how gender shapes experiences, cultural meanings and societal structures in physical activity and sport.
Her strategic role at the Huntsville, Texas, university aligns with Drexel’s increasingly interconnected expertise in the health sciences and its leadership in the education of nursing and health professionals.