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We seek to build a College that will be the nationally recognized leader in the empowerment of rural communities and underserved populations to address public health issues, eliminate health disparities and improve health outcomes. To achieve this level of excellence, the JPHCOPH is committed to a student-centered approach, development of academically distinct programs of study, dissemination of outstanding applied research that advances both the science and practice of public health, and the establishment of effective partnerships, collaboratives, outreach and service activities that help build healthier communities.

In existence as a College since January 1, 2006, our immediate focus will be on investing the necessary resources to build an outstanding College of Public Health that will be recognized nationally for teaching, research, and service and be accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

To this end, the College is undertaking a sizeable, sustained recruitment effort. We are seeking faculty who will embrace the challenge of building a new College; proven academicians at associate- and full-professor ranks, as well as those with strong potential for success in the areas of teaching, research, and service.

In addition to recruiting faculty, we have expanded our MPH degree offerings to include the five core areas within the field of Public Health: Biostatistics, Community Health Education, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Health Service Policy and Management. We also offer the Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) degree program in Biostatistics, Community Health Behavior and Education, and Public Health Leadership.

The development of the JPHCOPH at Georgia Southern University complements the University’s mission as a dynamic doctoral research university, as well as our focus of service and outreach to our region, state, nation and world. The mission of the JPHCOPH is to enhance health and eliminate health disparities of rural communities and underserved populations in Georgia and the southeastern region, the nation and the world through excellence in public health workforce development, research, professional service and community engagement.

The following shared core vales serve to guide decision making for our workforce development, research, professional service and community engagement activities. We will also use these values to help us make choices about how to move forward when the path is not clear.

• Excellence in research, service and instruction.
  
• Passion for improving the health of rural communities and underserved populations.
  
• Responsibility for promoting health equity and eliminating health disparities in rural communities and underserved populations.
  
• Commitment to Community Involvement.
  
• Collaboration for problem solving.

We are dedicated to enhancing the health of rural communities and underserved populations within our world by empowering communities to build the capacity for all persons to live healthier lives. I invite you to become part of building the our College. Please be sure to visit when your travels bring you to Georgia Southern; we are located in the newly renovated Cone Hall.

Yours in Health,

Charles J. Hardy, Ph.D.
Professor and Founding Dean
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health