Treviño named Dean of FIU’s School of Public Health

Fernando Treviño, a leader in public health education for more than 30 years, has been appointed dean of Florida International University’s Stempel School of Public Health.

Treviño, who served as Chancellor of Southern Illinois University for the past year, will succeed interim dean Michele Ciccazzo, who will return to her previous position as associate dean.

“Dr. Treviño is an extraordinary leader with unique experience and accomplishments in public health and medicine and has the vision to lead the Stempel School into the future,” said Ronald Berkman, executive vice-president and provost at FIU.

Treviño, 59, said he plans to build on the Stempel School’s reputation, bring more diversity to the faculty and foster internal collaborations with the other FIU colleges and schools, particularly the College of Medicine.

“FIU is poised to become a leader in health and life sciences education, and our public health programs will be an important component of that, along with our new College of Medicine and established programs in nursing and health sciences,” said Treviño. “Collectively, we can improve the well-being of our citizens and our community.”

Treviño also wants to strengthen the school’s affiliation with Miami-Dade County’s Health Department.

“This is a perfect opportunity to blend practice and theory of public health,” Treviño said. “We can enhance their scientific knowledge and they can make sure that we are training relevant practitioners to meet the needs of the community.”

From 1999 to 2007, Treviño was founding dean and professor of the School of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. During that period, he also served as director of the Texas Institute for Hispanic Health in the School of Public Health and as director of the school’s Institute for Public Health Research.

From 1996-2000, Treviño was professor and chairman of the Department of Public Health and Preventative Medicine in the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, part of the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center.

As professor and dean of the School of Health Professions at Southwest Texas State University from 1991-1993, Treviño was the chief academic officer of the nation’s largest school of health professions.

Treviño also has served as executive director of the American Public Health Association in Washington, D.C., and as executive editor of the American Journal of Public Health. He is a past president of the World Federation of Public Health Associations based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Treviño, who was born in Brownsville, Texas, holds a Ph.D. in preventive medicine and community health from the University of Texas Medical Branch, and a master’s in public health in health services administration from the University of Texas School of Public Health, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Houston.

-FIU-

Media Contact
Yusila Ramirez, 305.348.2716, or yramirez@fiu.edu