Dr. Sten Vermund is a pediatrician and infectious disease epidemiologist focused on diseases of low and middle income countries. His work on HIV-HPV interactions among women in Bronx methadone programs motivated a change in the 1993 CDC AIDS case surveillance definition and inspired cervical cancer screening programs launched within HIV/AIDS programs around the world. The thrust of his research has focused on health care access, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, and prevention of HIV transmission among general and key populations, including mother-to-child. Dr. Vermund has become increasingly engaged in health policy, particularly around sustainability of HIV/AIDS programs and their expansion to non-communicable diseases, coronavirus pandemic response and prevention, and public health workforce development. His recent grants include capacity-building for public health in Chad, molecular epidemiology for HIV in Kazakhstan, and COVID-19 vaccine studies in Dominican Republic and Connecticut. He has worked with schools and arts organizations for COVID-19 risk mitigation and institutional safety.

Meet the Dean

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Dr. Jaime Corvin is a community and family health scholar whose work focuses on global maternal and child health, health disparities, disaster management, and humanitarian assistance. She has collaborated with the U.S. military, the International Federation of the Red Cross, and NGOs in Haiti and the Dominican Republic on disaster response and organizational culture in humanitarian settings. Her research includes health disparities across Latin America and the Caribbean, culturally tailored health education campaigns, and breast health training as a Certified MammaCare specialist. In Tampa, she leads initiatives addressing cardiovascular disease and chronic disease prevention in underserved Latino communities. Dr. Corvin also teaches courses in global health, environmental health, disaster management, and humanitarian assistance.

Senior Associate Dean for Research and Practice

Dr. Ellen Daley is a behavioral researcher whose work focuses on women’s health, reproductive health, HPV prevention, health literacy, and adolescent health. Her longstanding commitment to women’s health began through the Women’s Health Movement, leading to the development of women’s health centers in New York, Michigan, and Florida. At the USF College of Public Health, Dr. Daley leads efforts to strengthen doctoral training that bridges public health research and practice, expanding opportunities for students to collaborate with community partners on real-world interventions. She has directed multiple CDC- and NIH-funded studies on HPV diagnoses, prevention, and related cancers, and has advanced transdisciplinary approaches to women’s health through collaborations across USF and state universities. Dr. Daley also serves on national advisory boards for HPV vaccination and women’s health curriculum and is past president of the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health.

Vice Dean for Finance & Operations, Chief Operating Officer

Jay Evans oversees the administrative, financial, and operational functions of the College of Public Health, ensuring efficient and effective support for the College’s academic, research, and community initiatives. He brings extensive experience in organizational development, finance, and public health administration, and holds an MBA in Organizational Development and Finance and an MPH in Maternal and Child Health and Health Education from USF.

Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Staff Relations

June Lake oversees faculty and staff affairs at the College of Public Health, supporting professional development, faculty governance, and employee relations. She works to foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture and ensures that policies and programs support the College’s mission and strategic goals.

Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies

Dr. Alison Oberne teaches undergraduate public health courses and co-leads the Public Health Live on Tour Seminar, providing students with hands-on experience at local health agencies. Her research focuses on health literacy, dietary practices, and food insecurity among young adults, with the goal of promoting healthy behaviors and increasing access to nutritious food. Dr. Oberne also serves as a Faculty Senator, chairs the College’s Education Committee, and engages in community service through programs such as Girls on the Run and Team Tampa Bay Missions.

Vice Dean for Faculty and Global Affairs

Dr. Tricia Penniecook is an accomplished public health executive with extensive experience leading health systems and shaping policy at national and global levels. Her career spans senior leadership roles in government, academia, and international organizations, driving systemic change and advancing health equity through evidence-based strategies and cross-sector collaboration. As Executive Director of Costa Rica’s National Center for Strategic Development & Health Information, Dr. Penniecook directed health workforce development for a system of over 53,000 employees and led national initiatives in policy innovation, disaster preparedness, and population health. Earlier, as State Health Director and Epidemiologist for Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health, she implemented transformative programs addressing maternal and child health, vector-borne disease control, and emergency response in partnership with PAHO and WHO. Globally recognized for her leadership in public health education, Dr. Penniecook has served as Academic Vice President, Dean and Vice Dean at leading institutions, including Oakwood University and Loma Linda University. During her tenure at the University of South Florida, she has advanced accreditation, faculty development, and equity-driven organizational strategies. She continues to influence global health education through her roles with ASPPH, PAHO and international advisory groups.

Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs

Dr. Janice Zgibor is a pharmacist and epidemiologist with over 20 years of experience leading community- and provider-based research on diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention. She has directed multiple pragmatic and cluster-randomized trials, including interventions delivered by community health workers to improve weight management, glycemic control, and cardiovascular outcomes. Dr. Zgibor’s work emphasizes implementation, evaluation, and quality improvement in primary care and community settings, and she has extensive experience training healthcare providers and engaging diverse communities. She also serves as a scientific reviewer for NIH study sections focused on dissemination, implementation, and health services research.

Interim Chair, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science

Dr. Henian Chen leads the Department of Biostatistics and Data Science and directs the Study Design & Data Analysis Core at USF. He has authored over 160 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to more than 50 clinical trials, including numerous NIH-funded studies, and serves as a biostatistical reviewer for NIH clinical trial applications. Dr. Chen’s research and teaching focus on clinical trial design, multilevel data analysis, and applied biostatistics, mentoring graduate students and collaborating on interdisciplinary research projects.

Interim Chair, Department of Health Policy and Systems Management

Katherine Drabiak specializes in health law, public health law, and medical ethics, and has published widely in law and medical journals as well as mainstream media. She consults on research and clinical ethics, develops guidance policies, and serves on advisory committees including AdventHealth’s Medical Ethics Committee. At USF, she co-directs the Law and Medicine Scholarly Concentration and teaches students to navigate the intersection of law, ethics, and public health practice.

Interim Chair, Department of Community Health Sciences

Dr. Karen Liller specializes in public health and injury prevention, leading research, policy, and educational initiatives to protect children and adolescents. She is founder and director of the Activist Lab and has held multiple administrative roles including Associate Dean and Dean of the Graduate School. Dr. Liller has published extensively, received numerous awards including national honors in health education, and leads programs advancing injury prevention, public health training, and advocacy.

Interim Chair, Department of Epidemiology

Dr. Jason L. Salemi is an epidemiologist and nationally recognized expert in birth defects surveillance, epidemiologic methods, and public health data systems. He directs the Florida Birth Defects Surveillance Program in collaboration with the CDC and Florida Department of Health and has led numerous state- and federally funded studies focused on maternal and child health. Dr. Salemi has authored over 215 peer-reviewed publications, and his work emphasizes large-scale data linkage, applied methods, and translating complex data into actionable public health insight, including the development of a widely used statewide COVID-19 dashboard and participation in over 500 media interviews to keep communities informed. He is a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology and a recipient of local and national awards for research, teaching, and mentorship.

Interim Chair, Department of Global, Environmental and Genomic Health Sciences

Dr. Amy Stuart specializes in air quality, environmental exposures, and sustainable infrastructure, with research spanning community-based sensor networks, traffic-related pollution, and impacts of pollutants on health and the environment. Her work is funded by the EPA, NIH, NSF, and DOT, among others. She teaches environmental health, air pollution, and modeling courses, and serves on leadership committees for professional organizations including AEESP and the Air & Waste Management Association.