About the role
With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
The Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) is the largest department within the University of South Florida's College of Public Health (COPH) and is a dynamic academic community dedicating to improving the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities through excellence in education, research,
practice, and service. The Department of Community Health Sciences offers a diverse portfolio of graduate programs, including MPH concentrations in Maternal & Child Health, Nutrition & Dietetics, Community Nutrition, and Health Promotion & Behavior; an MSPH in Genetic Counseling; and a PhD in Public Health with a
concentration in Community & Family Health. The department also offers graduate certificates in Applied Lifestyle Medicine Coaching and Maternal and Child Health. Through these programs, CHS prepares public health professionals, researchers, and practitioners to address complex health challenges. CHS also contributes to undergraduate education and interdisciplinary public health training across the university. The department's faculty conduct innovative, community-engaged and translational research addressing critical public health challenges.
Areas of research and practice include maternal and child health; health promotion and behavioral health; nutrition, dietetics and community nutrition; genetic counseling and genomics; lifestyle medicine; injury and violence prevention; health disparities; chronic disease prevention; and community-based interventions.
CHS faculty and students engage with nationally recognized research and practice centers, including the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center, USF Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Education, Science and Practice, Sunshine Education and Research Center, James and Jennifer Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence, and Center for Applied Lifestyle Medicine. These centers provide opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, research, experiential learning, and community engagement. The department is committed to preparing the next generation of public health scientists, practitioners, educators, and leaders. CHS provides an environment that connects innovative research, evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary education, and meaningful community partnerships to address
complex and evolving public health challenges locally, nationally, and globally. Learn more at https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/departments/chs/
The incumbent of this position serves as a senior-level faculty member in Community Health Sciences. In addition, the incumbent serves as Chair of the Department. As a ranked professorial faculty position at USF, the incumbent will have teaching, research, scholarship and service responsibilities. As Chair of the Department, the incumbent will have the overall responsibility to lead the Department to a position of academic and professional prominence, while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and forward-looking academic environment that supports faculty success, student achievement, interdisciplinary partnership, and research growth furthering the goals and mission of the College of Public Health. The Chair must effectively lead a diverse department spanning multiple disciplinary perspectives, fostering collaboration, transparency, faculty engagement, and community partnership. This position reports directly to the Dean who will meet with the incumbent annually to discuss the specific assignment for the upcoming academic year and evaluate performance for the previous year.
Instructional Duties:
Teach graduate level public health and Community Health Sciences related courses where interests and needs align. Collaborate in teaching with other faculty within the College and participate in college-wide teaching initiatives. Advise graduate students at both masters and doctoral levels, including serving on thesis and
dissertation committees as needed.
Research Duties:
Collaborate with faculty within the Department and across the College, USF Health and USF to create new knowledge through research in the area of Community Health Sciences and to translate that knowledge to practice. Apply for and obtain competitive extramural funding for research grants. Disseminate scholarly
achievements through peer-reviewed publications, presentations and active translation to the field.
Service Duties:
Participate in service activities at the university, professional and community levels, including serving on special work groups and other university service roles. Participate at the local, state and national level in professional organizations and activities. Serve on Department, College and University committees; actively participate in local, state, and national public health organizations and professional associations; and contribute actively to community engagement.
Administrative Duties:
Specific responsibilities of the Department Chair include:
- Exercising leadership by developing and implementing effective goals and plans for the department,
representing the faculty and serving as a role model for faculty, staff and students. - Managing Department staff and student employees, finances and resources effectively and
efficiently, in accordance with College and University policies. - Practicing fair, balanced and transparent leadership in managing the various constituencies within the
Department and facilitating the work of faculty. - Fostering excellence in the education, research and service programs of the Department, including
collaboration with other department chairs, center directors, and designated mission leads. - Facilitating the recruitment and retention of a diverse and talented faculty, staff and student body to fulfill
the needs and missions of the Department and College. - Advocating for equitable salary and academic work conditions for Department faculty, staff and student
employees, facilitating their continuing academic and professional development. - Encouraging the development of research and teaching programs and fostering interdisciplinary
activities. - Responsible for ensuring timely, fair and equitable completion of the annual faculty assignment and
evaluation processes. Responsible for ensuring completion of the staff evaluation process and that their
students are evaluated consistent with the expectations of the Graduate Assistant Collective Bargaining
Agreement. - Responsible for ensuring all University and College training requirements are completed on time and
are up to date. - Actively participating as a member of the College Leadership team, providing overall direction for the
continued growth and improvement in quality of all College mission areas. - Contributing to the reputation and overall welfare of the College and University.
- Collaborating with other Department Chairs regarding the assignment and evaluation of faculty who have
joint (secondary) appointments in their respective departments, as well as, College-wide program
directors for shared teaching responsibilities necessary to meet the academic mission of the College. - The Chair is also expected to maintain a record of personal success in his/her field and participate in the
teaching, research, and service programs of the Department. - The Chair serves as an advisor to the Dean of the College of Public Health and as a member of the
Executive Committee of the College. - Promote a culture of transparency, collegiality, shared governance, and constructive conflict resolution
within the department. - Develop and implement strategic plans for faculty recruitment, retention, succession planning, and
workforce growth aligned with departmental and college priorities
Essential Functions of the Position:
The creation, dissemination and translation of knowledge through collaborative research. Teaching on-line and in the classroom and advising students. Active engagement in professional and community service. Actively oversee and lead the academic, financial and human resource activities of the department.
Minimum Qualifications:
Doctoral degree in Community Health Sciences or Equivalent with a demonstrated record of achievement in teaching, academic research, and service. Normally will have produced creative work, professional writing or research in referred and other professional journals, and be a recognized authority in the field of specialization. Must meet university criteria for appointment to the rank of Professor.
Additional Minimum Qualifications:
- A minimum of two years of sustained accomplishment as an Associate Professor in a university or equivalent setting, including evidence of scholarly productivity, leadership, teaching effectiveness, and service. A record of excellence in teaching in Community Health Sciences, including a clearly defined teaching philosophy and a record of participation on and as major professor for thesis and/or dissertation committees for master's and doctoral candidates where applicable.
- A national and/or international record of excellence in independent and/or collaborative research and/or creative scholarly work in Community Health Sciences supported by substantial and sustained publications or their equivalent.
- A record of substantive contribution of service to the University and to the field, profession, and community.
- Compelling evidence of significant achievement among peers in one's discipline or professional field at the national or international level.
- A record of collegiality and participation as a citizen of a University or other equivalent institution.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated expertise in Community Health Sciences or equivalent.
- Administrative experience leading multi-disciplinary teams.
- Commitment to and experience in mentoring of junior faculty.
- Commitment to and experience in attracting, retaining and graduating doctoral students.
Ability to create and support a collaborative research and learning community. - Extensive publication record in peer-reviewed journals relevant to the field of Community Health
Sciences. - Demonstrated commitment to faculty development, mentorship, retention, and advancement across
career stages. - Demonstrated success obtaining competitive extramural funding, including evidence of leadership on
externally funded methodological, collaborative, or data science initiatives. - Commitment to faculty governance and collegiality.
- Experience developing and sustaining community-engaged research, practice, and partnership
initiatives. - Excellent oral and written communication skills.
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.