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Greetings from the Chair
Summer 2026
Greetings alumni and friends,
We have finished up the 2025-2026 academic year. The first for Health Sciences with 109 Kinesiology graduates, 9 Human Health & Physiology graduates, and 12 Public Health Graduates. You can read more about the ceremony and the speech from our Major of the Year, Sydney Senn, on our webpage:
https://www.wm.edu/as/health-sciences/alumni/graduation/graduation-2026/
Summer is officially underway in the ’Burg as we await the expective massive crowds for the 250th celebration of July 4th in Colonial Williamsburg. Unfortunately, the weather forecast is a scorcher with over 100oF (37.8oC) predicted for the 3rd and the 4th and potential rain. Despite that, cool things are happening in the department this summer.
Right after commencement, Prof. Sarah Menefee led a Public Health Institute through the DC Office which provided a number of internship opportunities for students in the DC area https://www.wm.edu/offices/dccenter/opportunities/dcsummerinstitutes/about/academics/institutes/publichealth/
Prof. Scott Ickes just left Williamsburg to travel to Kenya to check up on the continues collaborative research with the Ignite Lab (with Profs Dolan and Odhiambo) and the Pamoja project which has included updating the housing facilities for students participating in this research program. From there, Prof. Ickes will head to England where he is serving as director of W&M Summer Program in Cambridge https://studyabroad.wm.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=1007
Closer to home in the hallways of Adair, there are a number of students working in the research labs with Prof. Caligiuri, Prof. Looft-Wilson, Prof. Scott, and myself on a variety of projects. This has led to some temporary reconfiguration of Adair as we have renovated several spaces to make labs for new faculty. Perhaps you can stop by during homecoming to take a tour but only for a few more years as we are once again in consideration for a move this time to a renovated Ewell Hall which you can read about here: https://www.wm.edu/offices/architect/design-construction/currentprojects/ewell-reno.php
Finally, speaking of new faculty, I am excited to announce the results of our search this past year. Dr. Ian Greenlund will be joining us from his postdoctoral position at the Mayo Clinic to support the Human Health & Physiology Program. Dr. Greenlund’s primary research is in sleep physiology. Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomas (’09, government) will be joining us from her postdoctoral position at Johns Hopkins University to support our Public Health program. Dr. Thomas’ research focus is in global environmental health and behavioral science, using mixed-methods research to develop, implement, and evaluate community-based interventions that improve water, sanitation, and hygiene in low-resource settings.
Unfortunately, I think this message is getting a bit long although there is still much to share as the department continues to evolve and grow. In the Fall, I hope to give you more updates on the research, possible new faculty searches, and some exciting new internship opportunities. Finally, it was an honor to have my story told in the recent W&M Alumni magazine (https://www.wm.edu/as/health-sciences/news/the-wm-effect-article-from-the-wm-alumni-magazine.php ) and we love to hear your story which you can provide via our Send Us Your News link.
Hope to hear from you soon. Go Tribe!
Sincerely,
Brennan Harris
Professor & Chair
Department of Health Sciences