Effective this month, Dr. Donna Petersen, the fourth dean of the USF College of Public Health, (COPH), will be retiring from her leadership role at the university after 19 years of extraordinary service.
Donna Petersen, ScD, MHS, CPH, FAAS.
Petersen, who will remain on the COPH faculty, is the longest-serving dean of the college. She held myriad positions at the university since she arrived in 2004, including interim senior vice president for USF Health, chief health officer, interim associate vice provost for student health and wellness and chair of the USF COVID-19 response taskforce.
Petersen’s contributions to the college and the field of public health have been enormous.
According to her university bio, she is the “author of numerous publications, book chapters and a textbook on needs assessment in public health” and “a frequent lecturer on topics related to educational innovation in public health, maternal and child health, health care reform and systems change and leadership, and has provided extensive technical assistance and training to over 25 state health departments in the areas of needs assessment, data system development, systems level accountability and the development of population-based indicators.”
Petersen, right, with the late Samuel Bell, founder of the college, at a USF graduation.
Over the years, Petersen has served on dozens of committees and boards, including the National Board of Public Health Examiners, the Council on Education for Public Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Public Health Systems and Services Research Initiative and the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), in addition to numerous local boards. She’s been lauded for her work by the American Public Health Association (APHA), the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, the Delta Omega National Public Health Honor Society, the National Coalition for Excellence in MCH Epidemiology, the federal Bureau of Maternal and Child Health and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, among others.
Petersen, front row, center, stands with new COPH graduates.
Petersen received both her master’s and doctoral degrees at Johns Hopkins University and served as a professor of maternal and child health and health care organization and policy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. She also served as a senior associate dean at UAB. Prior to that, she was director of the Division of Family Health at the Minnesota Department of Health and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
Under Petersen’s leadership, the COPH has risen in the standings.
The college has consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally for the last 10 years and is the highest-ranking public health degree program in the state of Florida. The COPH was the first in the U.S. to offer a distance-based Master of Public Health program via satellite technology and continues to receive high rankings for its online Master's program.
Petersen, right, at a meeting with administrators of Japan’s Gifu University.
But Petersen won’t only be remembered for what she brought to the college. She also will be remembered for what she gave to students, staff, faculty and the surrounding community. Many were eager to express their thoughts and thanks.
“When I began as dean at the University of Florida, our college aspired to become an accredited school of public health. We were uncertain of the path to that goal, and we were unsure of whether the leadership of the University of South Florida (at the time the only accredited school of public health in the state) might object to our plans. I timidly called Dean Petersen, whom I had never met, to gauge her reaction. I was surprised and delighted with her enthusiastically positive response. Not only did she indicate that she had no objections to our plans; she also volunteered to play an active role in helping us achieve our objectives—a pledge that she fulfilled with great enthusiasm. She provided extensive feedback on our accreditation application, wrote letters of support to the Florida Board of Governors and to the Council for Education in Public Health and she traveled to Gainesville on multiple occasions to help prepare us for the accreditation site visit. She conducted a full day mock site visit with our faculty and students, and she met with administrators to provide a briefing on key public health issues facing the state. I was thoroughly impressed by her motivation to help what some might have viewed as a potential competitor for future faculty, students and resources. She had absolutely no concerns about having another accredited school of public health just 100 miles up the road from USF. Instead, she was motivated by a firm belief that the health of the state and the country would be better served by having additional institutions that could educate and train the next generation of public health practitioners and researchers.” --Dr. Michael G. Perri, dean emeritus, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida
"She had absolutely no concerns about having another accredited school of public health just 100 miles up the road from USF. Instead, she was motivated by a firm belief that the health of the state and the country would be better served by having additional institutions that could educate and train the next generation of public health practitioners and researchers.” --Dr. Michael G. Perri, dean emeritus, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida
“Donna’s term as ASPPH chair was an incredible journey. It was an honor and a true joy to have her as our board chair, steering ASPPH with unwavering positivity and dedication. Her leadership was a beacon of inspiration, radiating positivity in every decision, interaction, and endeavor. Her optimism created an atmosphere where creativity thrived, and resilience became second nature. While her professional role may change, the relationships she’s built are enduring. I hope she knows how much she is appreciated!” -- Dr. Laura Magaña, president and CEO of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH)
“Donna is beloved as a leader and a friend. She never stepped away from a challenge and she often faced situations with grace and good humor. She demonstrated that leadership is not just espousing platitudes or giving speeches to exhort groups of people. Sometimes, it’s getting into the nitty gritty to make a difference in someone’s life, whether it’s making sure their scholarship arrives or even if they need money for groceries.” --Dr. Michael Kogan, director of the Office of Epidemiology and Research at HRSA/Maternal and Child Health Bureau
“Donna’s leadership was truly visionary, and her legacy will live on in higher education in public health for many years to come. Her emphasis on students and community is what made her so special as a dean.” --Dr. Laura Rasar King, executive director of the Council on Education for Public Health
Petersen, center, stands with COPH students at the 2022 APHA annual meeting.
“Donna’s leadership was truly visionary, and her legacy will live on in higher education in public health for many years to come." --Dr. Laura Rasar King, executive director of the Council on Education for Public Health
“Donna Petersen is one of the finest leaders American public health has produced. My team and I, when I was dean, were able to move our college forward by a bunch of significant baby steps. But under Donna's leadership, many giant steps have been taken, moving us up to the top ranks of schools of public health both in the U.S. and internationally. This has not been lost on other, even ancient schools that have tried to pry her away, but her devotion to our college and USF has been steadfast. I love her for her love of our wonderful college, students, staff and faculty.” --Dr. Charles Mahan, dean of the COPH from 1995-2002
“Donna is brilliant. She is one of the best, most diplomatic and talented leaders I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She is passionate about the work she does, and she is there for the greater good. What I will miss most about Donna is her leadership. But that doesn’t go away—you either have it or you don’t. She has such competence. She knows what’s appropriate and what isn’t. I trust her immensely. I had already stepped down when COVID came, but she not only helped lead the university, she was also consulted nationally [about the virus]. That was a very, very, very hard job. And as Donna’s incredible success grew, so did respect for the University of South Florida. --Dr. Judy Genshaft, former USF president
"As Donna’s incredible success grew, so did respect for the University of South Florida." --Dr. Judy Genshaft, former USF president
Petersen accepting a Women in Leadership & Philanthropy award.
“Dean Petersen doesn’t just talk the talk; she walks the walk! She has a heart and respect for those who are most marginalized and under resourced and she believes in equipping others to be bold, passionate and smart in the pursuit of their goals and vision to improve optimal health for all. I hope the dean truly knows that she is a blessed woman, and that her personal and professional accomplishments are acknowledged, respected—and yes—envied by some from close-up and afar. But, when all is said and done, I want the dean to know with piercing clarity that her legacy as dean of the USF COPH will be forever etched in the hearts, minds and behaviors of thousands for the good [she accomplished].” --Estrellita “Lo” Berry, former president and CEO of REACHUP, Inc., and affiliate faculty member at the COPH