Mark DeHaven has been named the Dean W. Colvard Endowed Distinguished Professor in the College of Health and Human Services.
According to CHHS officials, this unique professorship, supported by the Dalton-Brand Foundation Inc., is key for the college to realize its vision of becoming a central research and public service force in addressing health disparities across the region.
"We are thrilled that Mark is joining our faculty and in such an important role,” said CHHS Dean Nancy Fey-Yensan. “As a renowned community health researcher, we look forward to his leadership and advocacy in building and strengthening our University-community research capacity and to moving the dial on urban and poverty-related health disparities, including access to quality health care and to health promotion programs.”
DeHaven joins UNC Charlotte from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, where he was professor and founding director of the Texas Prevention Institute. He has supervised and directed dozens of projects, including global community health initiatives, in a number of countries. These projects, related to chronic disease reduction efforts, have been conducted in Mexico, Peru, China and South Sudan. DeHaven is a recipient of the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s President’s Award for Research, the Dallas Academy of Medicine Philanthropy Award, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Professional of The Year Award and the President’s Award from the North American Primary Care Research Group.
A prolific researcher, DeHaven has authored more than 40 publications. In just the last 10 years, his innovative leadership and scholarship have been supported by more than $34 million in grants. His doctoral degree was earned at the University of Florida, Gainesville, with specializations in comparative systems, behavioral research and methodology and international behavior.
In a new position within the College of Health and Human Services, DeHaven will provide leadership to interdisciplinary, community-based research and outreach initiatives that will be fueled by vertical teams comprised of CHHS faculty and members of other UNC Charlotte departments and graduate and undergraduate students. In addition, he will concentrate on the development of full partnerships with community health and human service agencies as well as municipal and state government entities.
In addition to his duties as a member of the dean’s administrative team, DeHaven will be a member of the college’s Department of Public Health Sciences.