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School of Public Health
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ATLANTA—Shannon Self-Brown, a Distinguished University Professor who has held several leadership positions within the Georgia State University School of Public Health, has been named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Self-Brown has chaired the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences since 2018 and has overseen growth in its research activity, community engagement and degree programs. As Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Self-Brown will provide strategic oversight and management across faculty affairs and academic affairs, which includes the school’s Office of Academic Assistance and its Office of Applied Practice Experiences and Career Services.
Self-Brown is a nationally recognized leader in the field of child maltreatment and family violence prevention who has authored or co-authored more than 130 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. She provides students with hands-on research opportunities in her PREVenT Lab, has served as a dissertation chair or committee member to 13 Ph.D. students and served as a thesis committee chair or member for nearly 30 Master of Public Health students. She co-directs the GSU’s National SafeCare Training and Research Center and GSU’s Center on Health and Homelessness.
“Dr. Self-Brown’s record of success in fostering a learning and working environment that enables students and faculty to achieve their full potential makes her especially well-suited for this critical role,” said Dean Rodney Lyn. “She exemplifies how Georgia State’s status as a research-intensive university benefits students as well as local and global communities.”
A Q&A with Self-Brown is below:
I started out as a child clinical psychologist, deeply committed to helping families heal and thrive. While I loved the work, I often felt the weight of wanting to do more—reach more people, create broader change. I was trained in evidence-based practices and believed everyone deserved access to tools that could help them live fuller, healthier lives. That belief—that health is a human right—led me to public health. A pivotal moment was having the opportunity to complete a fellowship with the CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention, where I focused on expanding access to evidence-based programs for child abuse prevention. It was there that I saw how systems-level work could amplify impact and bring healing to entire communities.
In my role, I strive to ignite students’ passion for public health and guide them toward a career rooted in the belief that health is a human right. I work to ensure their coursework, applied practice and research experiences are not just educational—but transformational—so they leave inspired, equipped and committed to advancing health for all.
I’ve been lucky to have mentors who truly supported me, and that’s shaped how I approach mentorship and leadership. My background as a psychologist helps me lead with empathy and intention. I aim to create spaces where people feel seen and valued, while also staying focused on professional development and career growth. I believe in balancing compassion with clarity—supporting others while helping them move forward with purpose.
As I step into this role, my top priorities are to grow enrollment so we can continue building the next generation of public health leaders, create more meaningful opportunities for students to connect with faculty and community—through applied practice and research—and ensure we excel in meeting our accreditation standards. At the core, it’s about fostering a learning environment where students feel inspired, supported and prepared to advance health for all.