Harvard University is set to welcome back an esteemed environmental health sciences scholar, Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, as the incoming dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The announcement was made by Harvard President Claudine Gay on Wednesday, emphasizing Baccarelli’s outstanding contributions as a scientist, educator, and leader.
Baccarelli, currently the Leon Hess Professor of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, will officially assume the role on January 1, succeeding Michelle Williams, who served as dean through the 2022-2023 academic year.
President Gay expressed enthusiasm about Baccarelli’s return to Harvard, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Andrea Baccarelli back to Harvard. He brings a clear understanding of current challenges and emerging opportunities at the Chan School, a deep appreciation of its culture and strengths, and a fresh perspective on how it can contribute to local, national, and international conversations around improving public health and equity.”
Baccarelli, known for his broad interests spanning fundamental biology, social science, and bioinformatics, has been a key figure at Columbia University since 2016. As the chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, he has guided efforts to expand faculty and student numbers, introduced innovative educational programs, and played a pivotal role in launching initiatives such as the Career MODE program and the Skills for Health and Research Professionals (SHARP) program.
In his academic leadership roles, Baccarelli has been a proponent of diversity, achieving gender balance across faculty ranks and significantly increasing the number of faculty members from underrepresented minorities. His collaborative leadership style and commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment have garnered widespread recognition.
Provost Alan M. Garber, who co-led the search for the new dean, expressed confidence in Baccarelli’s abilities, stating, “Andrea is an outstanding scientist, educator, and leader. He has nearly a decade of experience leading one of the nation’s most highly regarded environmental health sciences departments. He is known both for his multidisciplinary approach to research and for his collaborative leadership style.”
Before his tenure at Columbia Mailman, Baccarelli served as an associate professor at the Harvard School of Public Health from 2010 to 2016. Born and raised in Italy, he earned his medical degree at the University of Perugia and later developed a keen interest in epidemiology and environmental health.
As an expert in epigenetics and a board-certified endocrinologist, Baccarelli’s research has significantly contributed to understanding the mechanisms linking environmental pollutants to human disease. His work has influenced international best practices for air pollution control and led to the enforcement of stricter guidelines by the Environmental Protection Agency.
President Gay expressed gratitude to Professor Jane Kim, who served as interim dean of the Chan School since July 1, and thanked the faculty advisory committee and the Chan School community for their valuable input during the search process.
