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Dear Colleagues,

On my last day as your dean, I want to say thank you to every member of the Bloomberg School community. Working beside you has been an honor and a constant source of inspiration, from the most difficult days to the most joyful.  

From the beginning of my tenure almost eight years ago, we have faced great challenges, but I always benefited from the wise counsel and deep commitment of those around me. Together, we crafted a strategic plan that focused our energy and resources on urgent issues. We broadened our reach and deepened our mission to help people everywhere live healthier lives. And we focused new attention on the hard and ongoing work to create a School community where everyone can thrive. Through it all, we continued to unleash the power of public health, serving the world in moments of great need and making history together.

That type of change and impact is only possible through collective effort. I am grateful to the deans and chairs who lead with such commitment and compassion. I am grateful to our faculty whose enduring impact is felt from the classroom to the laboratory to the field. I am grateful to our staff, whose grit and grace support and advance our mission every day. And, of course, I am grateful to our students, whose brilliance and passion keep us hopeful and moving forward.  

We all know this is a difficult moment for our field—and also a defining one. Our new dean, Keshia Pollack Porter, is the leader we need. She is ready to guide the School with vision, empathy, and strategic thinking. I know she will bring out the very best in our School and its people.  

I look forward to continuing to work with you as I return to the faculty. I have the deepest confidence in every one of you. I urge you to keep planning, keep dreaming, and stay hopeful.

Your work, and your light, will continue to make the world a better place.  

With sincere appreciation and gratitude,

Ellen  

Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD ’79, ScM ’75  

Dean  

Bloomberg Distinguished Professor