UNC leadership announced Dr. Nancy Messonnier as the next dean of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health on Wednesday. Messonnier will also serve as the Vaughn and Nancy Bryson Distinguished Professor in Public Health.

Dr. Barbara K. Rimer, current dean of the Gillings School, previously announced she would step down from the position effective June 30, 2022.

Messonnier earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Pennsylvania and her medical degree from University of Chicago School of Medicine. She started her career working for the CDC as an epidemic intelligence officer.

“Her many accomplishments include leadership roles in developing and implementing a low-cost vaccine to prevent epidemic meningitis in Africa; in responding to the 2001 anthrax attacks; and in promoting vaccine confidence and addressing disparities in immunization coverage,” university leadership said in a message to campus.

Additionally, Messonnier served as the CDC’s chief architect of the COVID-19 vaccine program, which eventually helped roll out vaccines across the country. She later led the Skoll Foundation as executive director focusing on building a global preparedness program aimed at preventing future pandemics.

The university said Messonnier joins the Gillings School during an exciting time.

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. (Photo via UNC.)

“The school is ranked the No. 1 public school of public health and second overall by U.S. News & World Report,” UNC leadership said. “The Gillings School has been ranked among the top schools and programs of public health since the magazine first ranked public health schools in 1987. Gillings also ranks No. 1 among schools of public health in funding from the National Institutes of Health, and faculty members have received more than $1 billion in research since 2016. This funding supports groundbreaking research, education and practice in all 100 North Carolina counties, 47 countries and five continents.”

Messonnier will begin her position as dean September 1 according to the university.

Photo via UNC.

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