Golbeck Joins UAMS College of Public Health as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Sept. 14, 2016 | Sept. 14, 2016 | Amanda L. Golbeck, Ph.D., M.P.H., has been named associate dean for academic affairs for the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

In addition, Golbeck has won the 2016 Elizabeth L. Scott Award from the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies for her outstanding efforts in enhancing the status of women and minorities, fostering new leadership opportunities for women and men, promoting diversity at all levels, and advocating for a more inclusive, open and supportive atmosphere in statistical sciences.

She recently returned from a Fulbright Specialist Program consultation with the University of Latvia in Riga, which is researching the country’s high suicide, depression and traffic accident rates and sought Golbeck’s knowledge of modern, state-of-the-art statistical research methods. In addition to research consultations with students and faculty, Golbeck conducted a series of lectures and seminars.

Golbeck will serve as a professor in the College of Public Health Department of Biostatistics in addition to her leadership role as associate dean for academic affairs.

She said she hopes to help UAMS prepare globally oriented graduates.

“I will be searching for ways to make public health education more accessible so that we can all continue the process of seeing with new eyes, a process that happens by interacting within diverse groups, with the result that our health and medical scientists can make the greatest impact on the health of the public,” Golbeck said.

Golbeck has a Ph.D. in biostatistics from the University of California at Berkeley, where she also earned master’s degrees in statistics and anthropology. She has one published book, “Leadership and Women in Statistics,” and is completing a second with two others planned. She has more than 100 published articles. She is an Elected Member of the International Statistical Institute and a Fellow of the American Statistical Association. ASA Fellows comprise less than one-third of 1 percent of the 15,000 ASA members worldwide.

Golbeck has held academic positions since 1983. Her most recent position was professor of biostatistics at the University of Montana in Missoula.

“She was our first choice because she combined an impressive academic record in public health, an impressive academic administrative background and an international reputation,” said Jim Raczynski, Ph.D., professor and founding dean of the College of Public Health. “Her specific set of skills is a welcome addition to everything we have to offer in the College of Public Health and especially in advancing our mission of improving the health and well-being of all Arkansans.”

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.

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