By Sophia Herndon
The dean of the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health, Boris Lushniak, will step down from his role as dean after 10 years in June 2027, leaving the department in search of a replacement.
In the last decade, Lushniak has worked to increase the number of students enrolled as public health majors and advanced the school’s overall activities and research, Jennifer Rice King, UMD’s senior vice president and provost, said in a statement to the university on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
“Among so many highlights, I will miss the interactions with our terrific faculty, staff, students and alumni,” Lushniak stated in an email to Stories Beneath the Shell Thursday. “We have a community full of people passionate about helping others, people who devote their lives to helping make neighborhoods healthier in Maryland and around the world.”
Lushniak called his time as dean “a great privilege,” and acknowledged the school’s strong community and the recent crucial scientific advancements.
“The collaborative spirit he has cultivated has led to tremendous interdisciplinary research success, including involvement in 14 Grand Challenges Grants projects,” Rice wrote in the statement.
The School of Public Health’s faculty led an array of projects, including two that received institutional grant funding from the university. The Women’s Health Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative and the Global FEWture Alliance both received financial funding from the university.
UMD’s School of Public Health professor and chair member Kerry Green acknowledged Lushniak’s impact on the department in an email to Stories Beneath the Shell Tuesday.
“Dean Lushniak has served the school exceptionally well over the past decade, strengthening our national visibility through his active engagement with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and contributing to the school’s rise in the U.S. News rankings,” Green said.
According to the U.S. News rankings, UMD’s School of Public Health rose from number 25 in 2024 to number 22 in 2026 in its national ranking of public health schools.
Green said she was excited to embark on a search for a dean who will continue to make new developments for the school, strengthen the student experience and grow the undergraduate program.
“I hope the next dean will position the school for continued growth and distinction while ensuring that our students, faculty, staff and community partners have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive,” Green said.
Acknowledging the necessary experience to serve as dean, junior public health science major Julianne Kim said she trusts the search committee to find a suitable replacement for Lushniak.
“I’m sure Maryland’s going to find someone as credible and knowledgeable,” Kim said.
Rice, who appointed the search committee, assured the UMD community that the next dean will fill Lushniak’s shoes as a strong leader capable of expanding the school’s innovation and collaboration.
“I look forward to continuing to see our School of Public Health grow as an academic and research powerhouse and a key partner to communities around our neighborhood, state and world,” Lushniak said.
Featured Image: The School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, College Park, on Sept. 16, 2026. Photo by Vanessa Lim.