The East Tennessee State University College of Public Health is very pleased to welcome Dr. Rod Handy as the Chair of the Department of Environmental Health. Dr. Handy comes to us from his previous position of Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah. His prior experiences include stints at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and Purdue University, among other academic positions, as well as eight years in the private sector.
His impressive resume includes 72 articles and 22 books and book chapters, reflecting his research interests in exposure science, environmental health and safety engineering, heat stress assessments, and related issues in occupational health and industrial hygiene. He has participated in securing over 175 funded research projects, the majority as Principal Investigator. He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida as well as an MBA from Ball State University and a BS in Mechanical Technology from Purdue University.
The Department of Environmental Health is nationally recognized as one of the oldest and most established programs in the country—holding the distinction of being the oldest undergraduate program accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council. Dr. Handy joins the Department and the College at a time in which the field of Environmental Health has never been more important. From climate change, to microplastics in the environment, to wildfire smoke, to the reemergence of insect-borne diseases—the list of Environmental Health challenges facing our planet is astonishing.
The college looks forward to working with him and the entire department to help create the next generation of environmental health leaders.