Visiting Scholars

The College of Public Health, Visiting Scholar Program administered within the Institute of Public Health Research and Policy, provides an opportunity to enrich the education, research and collaboration initiatives of the College by focusing on specific scholarly work and /or research of critical public health issues.  The program integrates exceptional senior scholars into the life of the college and provides unique time-limited opportunities for the students and faculty to interact closely with the scholars through a variety of functions.

Resident Scholars have relevant experience and hold an advanced degree in their field of study.  They must have demonstrated commitment to learning and demonstrated considerable impact in their respective field including excellence in teaching and research.  Typically, Visiting Scholars have led, or significantly contributed to major initiatives in public health practice or policy.

Visiting Scholars are expected to actively participate in a number of College activities for the duration of the appointment. Activities can include but are not limited to the following:

  • Contribute to the College’s teaching by presenting formal lectures, interactive classroom discussions regarding their research or area of public health impact for broad audiences across the University
  • Engage in formal or informal discussions with faculty and students
  • Undertake collaborative research with faculty
  • Provide consultation on pertinent research projects
  • Participate in curriculum development conversations to enrich existing courses or create new ones
  • Attend organized study groups
  • Partner with faculty to author a research article or policy brief

The Visiting Scholar is invited to develop a custom program by identifying specific activities and projects that align with one, or with each area of the College’s collective areas of excellence including Rural Health, Comparative Effectiveness Research and/or Community Engagement.  The program is structured according to the combined interests of the Scholar and the needs of the College.  The term of appointment as a Visiting Scholar is flexible and can range from one day to several weeks in residence.  The scholar is provided with exemplary office space in the College of Public Health building along with computing services, WI-FI connections and parking privileges during the length of the appointment.  In addition, travel and lodging expenses are covered.

The scholar will have the opportunity to network and expand their professional contacts by participating in educational and social functions that occur at the college during the length of the appointment.  These functions could be conferences that are held at the College, lunch time seminars provided by guest speakers, or activities hosted by the Health Sciences cluster such as Science Thursdays.

Previous Visiting Scholars

Nema Aluku, PhD

Fall 2018

Research Associate 
Tanzaga University College, Kenya


Tom Johnson, PhD

Spring 2018

Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Applied Economics and Public Affairs
University of Missouri​


Matt Fannin, PhD

Spring 2018

Professor of Rural and Community Development Economics
Louisiana State University


Laura Jelliffe-Pawlowski, PhD

Fall 2017

Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Associate Director, Precision Health & Discovery
University of California San Francisco


Senator Tom Harkin

Fall 2017

United States Senate

Nominate

Faculty, staff, and students can nominate a senior scholar for our Visiting Scholar program.