World-Renowned Obesity Expert Kelly Brownell Named Dean of Sanford School

DGHI is pleased to add its warm welcome to Kelly Brownell as the new dean of the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy. The James Rowland Angell Professor of Psychology at Yale University, Brownell is a leading authority on public policies to enhance nutrition and combat obesity.

Duke President Richard H. Brodhead and Provost Peter Lange made the announcement last week.

“We are delighted to welcome Kelly Brownell to the Duke family,” said Michael Merson, director of the Duke Global Health Institute. “Brownell’s knowledge and experience in policy related to obesity will complement one of DGHI’s existing research priorities, combating chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and obesity in the US and around the globe.”

At Yale, Brownell also serves as professor of epidemiology and public health and as director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. In 2006, TIME magazine named him as being among “the world’s 100 most influential people ... whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world.” The magazine cited Brownell’s role in raising public awareness on the relationship between unhealthy foods and childhood obesity.

Brownell, 61, will begin his new position on July 1. He succeeds Bruce Kuniholm, the Sanford School’s founding dean, who will be returning to the faculty after serving first as director (2005-2009) and then as dean.

See the original story on Duke Today.