SPH-B Organizational Announcements: Drs. Grace Sembajwe, William D. Ramos

The following is the text of an email sent on December 23, 2025.

Dear School of Public Health-Bloomington Colleagues,

I am writing to share several updates about the School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B) Dean's Office administration team.

I am pleased to share that Professor Grace Sembajwe has agreed to assume the role of interim Executive Associate Dean (EAD). Sembajwe will perform these responsibilities from January 1, 2026 until June 30, 2027.

Sembajwe earned an ScD in epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and served as a National Cancer Institute Fellow in Cancer Prevention and Control at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Center for Community-based Research in Boston, Massachusetts. She is a certified industrial hygienist with more than two decades of experience in clinical sciences and exposure assessment.

As EAD, Sembajwe will: 

• Promote the reputation of the SPH-B faculties’ excellence in research, teaching, and service within IU and beyond
• Provide leadership for all faculty throughout their careers to achieve their maximum potential in pursuit of each individual’s professional goals
• Plan and facilitate outstanding faculty development and enrichment opportunities to refine pedagogical skills and creativity for the best overall experiences and outcomes for SPH-B students, the community, and the population at large
• Recruit outstanding scholars to positively impact the school's mission of advancing knowledge on health and wellness

In addition to Dr. Sembajwe, it is my pleasure to share that effective January 1, 2026, Associate Professor William D. Ramos has been named interim chair of the SPH-B's Department of Health & Wellness Design.

Ramos earned his PhD in leisure behavior from Indiana University and has served the school, campus, and university in numerous capacities, including as Bloomington Faculty Council president and former chair of the SPH-B Academic Council.

His research focuses on how the aquatic environment impacts the human experience through recreational delivery systems. Hallmarks of this work include examining factors such as water safety, drowning prevention, recreational illnesses, affordance/access, physical activity, and program design. He aided in the creation and rollout of the first-ever U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan and serves as the aquatics committee chair as part of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council.

We are grateful for his skilled leadership and look forward to what comes next for the department as they continue their work of infusing health, happiness, and well-being into organizational structures where people live, work, govern, and play. We'd also like to extend our gratitude to Associate Professor Evan Jordan for serving as the interim chair since December 1, 2024. His guidance and collaboration have been integral to advancing our school's mission and promoting excellence in public health.

Finally, Professor Jerono Rotich concludes her term as the interim Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs effective December 31, 2025. She will continue her role as professor in the Department of Kinesiology. A sincere thank-you to Dr. Rotich for her dedicated service to SPH-B. 

Please join me in thanking Drs. Jordan and Rotich for their service and congratulating Drs. Sembajwe and Ramos in their new respective roles. I hope everyone has a fulfilling winter break and a fantastic start to the New Year.

Thank you,
Suresh Viswanathan
Interim Dean
IU School of Public Health-Bloomington