Virnig, who joins UF on July 11, currently serves as a professor in the division of health policy and management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and as director and lead of the school’s Strategic Global Public Health Programming, where she guides efforts with partner universities in Thailand, India, Mexico and Ghana.

“Dr. Virnig brings a long and distinguished record of leadership, research, teaching, mentoring and service to her new role,” said David R. Nelson, M.D., senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health. “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, like never before, the value and impact of the College of Public Health and Health Professions’ research, education and service endeavors on the health of Floridians and beyond. I look forward to watching the college’s continued growth and development under Dr. Virnig’s leadership.”