Dean James P. Porter, College of Life Sciences, announces the appointment of Dr. Josh West as the new chair of the Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 2021. Dean Porter also expresses his appreciation for the current department chair, Dr. Carl Hansen, who assisted in the accreditation of the undergraduate public health program and the revamping of course curriculum.
“I look forward to working with Josh West,” Dean Porter says. “He is currently the health promotion program director and received a lot of support from his department colleagues for this appointment. I wish him a smooth transition to this new administrative assignment.”
West earned his master’s degree in public health from San Diego State University and his PhD in public health from the University of California, San Diego. He has worked at BYU since 2008. His current research focuses on undernutrition in developing settings and the use of technology to promote behavior change. West says it has been an exciting year for public health, sparking conversations about COVID-19 and chronic diseases that would not have otherwise taken place.
West hopes to contribute to the upward trajectory of the Department of Public Health in his new position as department chair. “I’m very hopeful that I can have a small hand in helping my colleagues continue to reach their professional aspirations,” he says.