John Lowe, PhD, has been named interim chair of the UNMC Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health in the College of Public Health.
UNMC College of Public Health Dean Ali S. Khan, MD, MPH, announced the appointment in January. The Department’s founding chair, Eleanor Rogan, PhD, currently serves as interim chair of the UNMC Department of Health Promotion.
Dr. Khan said Dr. Lowe brings valuable expertise in research and leadership to the role.
“I am delighted that Dr. Lowe agreed to serve as the acting chair of the Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health,” Dr. Khan said. “He is a talented scientist with administrative leadership experience as Director of the Global Center for Health Security.
“He is also well-respected and well-versed across a broad domain of topics in environmental and occupational health. I am looking forward to working with him as part of the capital campaign to create a new environmental justice program.”
Dr. Lowe said he is thrilled to lead the Department in an important period of growth for the College of Public Health. He reiterated the importance of the Only in Nebraska capital campaign for the Department’s future.
“I’m really excited to lead the Department, in large part because of the breadth and depth of work happening here,” Dr. Lowe said. “It’s a great department full of amazing faculty with an incredibly diverse research portfolio—from molecular, lab-based research to translational research to applied, field-based research—which makes it unique and fun. There are so many different things going on that are all connected through the common thread of environmental health.”
A specialist in infection prevention and the control of emerging infectious diseases and special pathogens, Dr. Lowe joined UNMC in 2011 as an instructor. He was promoted to assistant professor in 2013, to associate professor in 2016, and to professor in 2021.
In 2017, Dr. Lowe was appointed assistant vice chancellor for health security training and education at UNMC. He was recently named director of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security, where he had previously served as a co-director since 2017.