Dean Monica Swahn: From the CDC to Leading a School of Public Health

Dr. Monica Swahn is Dean of the VCU School of Public Health, director of Global Women's Health for the VCU Institute for Women's Health, and holder of the Charles W. and Evelyn F. Thomas Endowed Professorship of Epidemiology.

She came to the role in July 2025 after serving as dean of the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services at Kennesaw State University, and before academia she spent nearly a decade at the CDC as a health scientist and epidemiologist.

In this conversation with Dr Banda Khalifa, she traces the route from a psychology degree to a PhD in epidemiology, through a decade inside government science, a Fulbright year building an alcohol research center at Makerere University in Uganda, and into academic leadership.

We cover:

What a decade at the CDC taught her about how evidence moves into decisions, and when it does not
Why she left government science for the university
Building research capacity in a partner institution so it survives after the funding ends
Presenting research to the WHO, UNDP, and PAHO
What a dean does all day, and what surprised her most
Her strategic vision for the VCU School of Public Health
What strong graduate applicants get right, and the mistake she sees most often
Advice for early-career professionals choosing between government, academia, and global work

The Scholars Table with Dr Banda brings scholars, leaders, practitioners, and emerging voices to the table for thoughtful conversations about health, science, academia, leadership, and public life.

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