State of the School

An annual fall event to kick off the academic year, learn about our school’s progress and consider our leadership’s vision for the future.

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State of the School

An annual fall event to kick off the academic year, learn about our school’s progress and consider our leadership’s vision for the future.

Every September our extended community gathers for this special event, hosted by the dean. The State of the School is both informative and celebratory, featuring updates about the School of Public Health’s growth and leadership’s vision for the year ahead. The dean addresses our community and shares their strategic vision for the school's next twelve months.

Join us on September 29

Join Provost Francis Doyle and Dean Francesca L. Beaudoin at this annual event to hear about our educational and research impact in Rhode Island and beyond, and learn more about the priorities for the coming year. Then stay for a reception to kick off the new academic year with colleagues and friends. All are welcome.

Thursday, September 29, 2026
4:00 PM
Simmons Quad

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2025 speakers — 2025 special guest speakers include: • Erin Fuse Brown, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice • Rebecca Hubbard, Carl Kawaja and Wendy Holcombe Professor of Public Health • Sean MacLean, OMPH alumnus & Community Disaster Program Specialist of the Greater New York Region Red Cross • Brandon Marshall, Professor of Epidemiology • Jared Perkins, Director of Health Policy Strategy

2024 Sayles — The 2024 State of the School was held in Sayles Hall

2024 Jha and guests — The 2024 State of the School included special guests (L to R): Ashish Jha, Julia Noguchi, William Goedel, Petranea Smith, Christina Paxson, Yashaswini Singh, Corey Zigler, and Wilmot James.

2024 Paxson — Brown University president Christina Paxson introduced Dean Jha in 2024

2023 Jha and Paxson — President Christina H. Paxson and Dean Ashish K. Jha held a conversation for the 2023 State of the School / Ten Year Anniversary Kickoff Event.

2022 state of school — Interim Dean Ron Aubert moderated a discussion amongst School of Public Health faculty for the 2022 State of the School event.

Jha and Governor McKee — Governor McKee joined Dean Jha onstage in 2023.

2021 State of the School Dean Jha speaks with students — Dean Jha socializes with attendees at the State of the School reception in 2021.

2023 Jha speaks — Dean Jha explains the School of Public Health's impact through research, scholarship and community engagement during the 2023 event.

States of the School 2021-2025

Watch recent and past State of the School events.

2025 graphic — September 16, 2025. Special guest speakers included: • Erin Fuse Brown, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice • Rebecca Hubbard, Carl Kawaja and Wendy Holcombe Professor of Public Health • Sean MacLean, OMPH alumnus & Community Disaster Program Specialist of the Greater New York Region Red Cross • Brandon Marshall, Professor of Epidemiology • Jared Perkins, Director of Health Policy Strategy

2024 State of the school graphic — September 12, 2024: Dean Jha addressed the School of Public Health at this annual fall event, showcasing the school’s impact by sharing the stage with members of the school’s community, including student, staff and faculty speakers.

2023 State of the School — September 27, 2023: A special 10th Anniversary State of the School Address to honor a decade of Brown University's School of Public Health. Dean Ashish K. Jha joins Brown University President Christina H. Paxson in conversation to discuss the past, present, and future of public health at Brown.

2022 banner — September 8, 2022: Featuring remarks from Provost Richard Locke, Interim Dean Ronald Aubert, and Academic Dean Megan Ranney. Followed by a moderated panel discussion with faculty Jennifer Nuzzo, Mark Lurie, and William Godel.

2021 State of the School — September 1, 2021: State of the School Address. Introduction by Brown University President Christina H. Paxson, followed by an address by Dean of the School of Public Health Ashish K. Jha.

Photo Highlights

Scenes from various State of the School events

September 17, 2025 News from SPH

The State of the School 2025

At the Brown University School of Public Health's 5th annual State of the School event, Dean Ashish Jha welcomed faculty, staff, students and alumni and highlighted Brown’s impact in education, research and policy. Despite the unprecedented moment we face, he assured the gathered crowd that “our school is strong.”