Debra Furr-Holden

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT DEBRA FURR-HOLDEN

My research is focused on community-engaged translational research, specifically environmental strategies for violence, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (VATOD) prevention, treatment, and recovery; place- and context-based prevention strategies and structural interventions, including policy interventions to improve behavioral health and health equity. I have worked extensively with policy makers to drive legislation related to alcohol outlet density reduction and other environmentally-based drug and violence prevention strategies. More broadly, my research is centered on public health solutions for eradicating health inequities and the systemic and structural barriers to optimal health for all people.I spent more than a decade implementing policy-based initiatives in Baltimore, MD. In 2016, I relocated to Flint, MI and became a Charles Stewart Mott Endowed Professor in the newly formed Division of Public Health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. In June 2017, I became the Interim Director of the Division of Public Health. I was installed as the permanent Director in June, 2019. I provided full administrative oversight of the Division (equivalent to a Department Chair) which grew tremendously under my leadership, generating more than $80 million in external funding in less than 6 years. In June, 2019 I become the Associate Dean for Public Health Integration, working collaboratively across the health colleges and the university to strengthen the public health infrastructure at MSU and the state of Michigan.I am deeply committed to the training and development of junior scientists at all levels from piquing interest in science careers in grade school children, providing internships to high school, college and post-baccalaureate students, pre-Doctoral and post-Doctoral training, and mentoring of early stage investigators and early- and mid-career faculty.On July 1, 2022 I began my tenure as the second dean of the NYU School of Global Public Health. This role includes working alongside some of the worlds most impactful public health leaders to implement research, practice- and policy-informed solutions to promote global health equity; academic, administrative, and programmatic leadership of the school including development and advancement; promoting inclusive excellence at NYU and beyond; relationship building across a global network of public health stakeholders to foster high-impact global health initiatives and partnerships; and nurturing the next generation of public health researchers, practitioners and leaders.