I am honored and humbled to have been appointed as the new dean of Sargent College. Sargent is a world-renowned community of scholars, researchers, clinicians, and more, all working to advance the education and practice of health and rehabilitation sciences. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this inspiring mission.

As a researcher focused on workplace safety and employee health, I understand how important it is to create an environment where colleagues and students can do their best work. Throughout my career, I’ve strived to improve worker safety, health, and well-being through organizational policies, programs, and practices. It’s very exciting for me to draw from this expertise in my new role at Sargent.

I want to thank Dean Christopher Moore for his steadfast leadership and many years of service to the college. You can read about the many achievements of “The Moore Legacy” in this issue, including increasing graduate student enrollment and research funding, compiling an outstanding leadership team, faculty, and staff, and investing heavily in junior faculty to ensure their legacy at Sargent. He leaves Sargent well-positioned for continued success.

I hope you find as much pride and excitement in this and the many other stories of impact and innovation featured in this edition of Inside Sargent. When I applied for the dean’s position, I drew inspiration from Boston University’s mission statement: “We remain dedicated to our founding principles: that higher education should be accessible to all and that research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice should be conducted in the service of the wider community—local and international.” The stories in this issue demonstrate the dedication to and modern expression of that vision by our students, alumni, faculty, and staff—and their dedication to improving the well-being of individuals across their lifespan.

Sargent College, through research, teaching, and practice, supports the well-being of all communities, recognizing that belonging, inclusion, and equity are at the core of community and health. My goal in this first year as dean is to listen and learn, to get to know our community—including students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve. I am excited to hear your ideas and your vision as we begin to renew Sargent’s Strategic Plan and co-create a shared path forward that builds powerfully on the momentum of all that’s been achieved and the promise of what can be. Until then, thank you for your continued support.

I’m excited for what comes next!

Yours always,

Jack Dennerlein
Dean and Professor