Sul Ross State University announced the appointment of Andria Rusk, Ph.D., as the new Executive Director of Public Health for the College of Health Sciences.
Dr. Rusk brings over 15 years of experience in global public health education, program development, and research to her new role, where she will lead the creation and implementation of the university’s new online Master of Public Health (MPH) with concentrations in Community Health, Health Informatics and Healthcare Administration.
Rusk joins Sul Ross following an impressive academic career, including her tenure as Program Director of the MPH in Healthcare Policy and Management at Florida International University, where she also co-developed the institution’s first MPH program in Global Health. Her earlier work includes co-founding and co-directing the first Global Public Health program in California at Dominican University of California.
“Dr. Rusk brings an extraordinary blend of academic leadership, global health expertise, and student-centered innovation to Sul Ross,” said Dr. Dean Culpepper, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “Her commitment to experiential learning and her global public health perspective will elevate our programs and deepen our impact across West Texas and beyond.”
Rusk’s professional journey began in the private healthcare sector, where she worked for nearly a decade in the pharmaceutical and vaccines division at Novartis, Inc. Her transition into academia allowed her to focus on global health research, particularly the development of the GeoHealth Framework—an innovative approach she applies to the study of infectious diseases, environmental health and health behavior interventions.
Her international work spans multiple continents, including public health initiatives and research in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua and Mexico.
“These experiences inform my approach to experiential learning, global education, community and leadership in humbling recognition that we are all a part of something larger than ourselves,” said Rusk. “In addition to Sul Ross’s achievements in student opportunities and global education, its commitments to research and the health sciences bring great promise to the students of West Texas and beyond. I am thrilled to be here.”
Rusk is also a widely published researcher, with work appearing in The Lancet Global Health, Malaria Journal, and other prestigious journals. Rusk has also been featured on Fox News, The Miami Herald, Good Housekeeping and Global News Canada for her insights on public health trends.
Rusk holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health, a Master of Science in Global Health from Duke University, and a BA in English Literature and Language from Westmont College.
She is a member of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health and the Planetary Health Alliance, where she contributes to advancing global health education through experiential learning.
For more information, email andria.rusk@sulross.edu.
Photo: Dr. Andria Rusk