Texas A&M University names new dean of the School of Public Health

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday, Feb. 12, approved Jay Maddock, Ph.D., as the new dean of the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health.

Maddock comes to Texas A&M from the University of Hawaii, where he served as director of the Public Health Program for eight years. He will assume his new role on February 13.

As the School of Public Health dean, Maddock will provide academic and administrative leadership in expanding academic, research and public health practice opportunities, serving as a visionary leader in public health initiatives within the health science center and with key national and international constituencies.

“Building upon an already accomplished career, Dr. Maddock brings a unique combination of vision, accomplishments, energy, and personal qualities to advance the school in achieving its educational, research and service goals,” said Brett P. Giroir, M.D., CEO of Texas A&M Health Science Center. “We are honored to have Dr. Maddock at the public health helm, training and leading the next generation of public health professionals in improving the health of populations throughout Texas and around the world.”

Just this month, the school received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer the Master of Health Administration degree for midcareer health care professionals at the Texas A&M Health Science Center Houston campus.

“The Texas A&M School of Public Health has amazing potential to become one of our nation’s top schools of public health,” Maddock said.  “Our expansion of degree programs to Houston demonstrates the continuation of our efforts to train the public health workforce statewide and to improve the health of all Texans.”

Maddock’s research focuses on social ecological approaches to increasing physical activity. He has served as principal investigator on projects totaling more than $18 million in extramural funding and is an author of over 90 scientific articles.

Maddock received his undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University and both his master’s degree and doctorate in experimental psychology from the University of Rhode Island.

He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Health Behavior; received the Award of Excellence from the American Public Health Association, Council on Affiliates; and was a charter member of the National Institutes of Health study section on Community-Level Health Promotion. Named the Bank of Hawaii Community Leader of the Year, he chaired the Hawaii State Board of Health and co-authored the state Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan.

Maddock has given invited lectures in numerous countries, including Australia, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, El Salvador and Brazil, and he holds honorary professorships at two universities in China.

A top 25 ranked public health graduate school, the Texas A&M School of Public Health educates and trains health care professionals at campuses in Bryan-College Station and McAllen – and soon to include Houston – through a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Through novel research initiatives that incorporate population health investigations across diverse global communities, the School of Public Health is advancing disease prevention and health improvement throughout Texas and beyond.