Starting this month, Dr. Nicole Cousin-Gossett will take on an expanded role aimed at creating a space where all undergraduate students can thrive and graduate as professionals ready to take on the greatest public health needs. Cousin-Gossett, who had previously been assistant dean, will now serve as associate dean for undergraduate education with a concurrent senior lecturer faculty appointment in the SPH Department of Global, Environmental and Occupational Health.
As a member of the Dean’s senior leadership team, Cousin-Gossett leadership includes student services administration, curriculum and enrollment oversight, assessment evaluation, and development of undergraduate education. In all, she will prioritize access, inclusion and belonging for all of the SPH population.
“Cousin Gossett will be exceptional in this enhanced role, continuing her great work since joining the University of Maryland School of Public Health in 2021,” said SPH Dean Boris Lushniak. “She has fostered educational excellence across our school, advanced understanding of the critical issues and needs of undergraduate students and been a model of building transparent relationships throughout SPH.”
Among Cousin-Gossett’s many accomplishments, she has launched and leads the SPH Undergraduate Students’ Advisory Council course and supported the launch of the Global Health major, partnering with the UMD Incentive Awards Program to expand inclusion in study abroad and supporting work to fortify the pre-health professionals pipeline.
“It’s genuinely a pleasure to work with so many dedicated and compassionate individuals who accomplish such great things together,” Cousin-Gossett said. “Our students, staff, faculty and UMD community have such a vast wealth of gifts and talents! I look forward to continuing to build opportunities for my colleagues to shine and for our students to grow.”
Cousin-Gossett’s expertise, creativity and strength of character are widely known: There is often a line of students outside her physical or virtual door, eager to talk with “Dr. C-G.”
“Students know she is knowledgeable, she cares, and she will always give actionable and compassionate guidance,” Lushniak said. “Dr. Cousin-Gossett’s efforts have strengthened our community and been crucial steps toward the goals of our SPH Strategic Plan, including reimagining learning and supporting the growth of our SPH community.”