Academic Enterprise Announcements Exciting things are happening in UTMB's Academic Enterprise every day.We are committed to keeping our UTMB community informed about news from the AE - from new leadership appointments and awards to development and learning opportunities for our faculty, staff, and students.Read announcements from members of our AE leadership and other important news items from across the AE. Julie Griffith Named AE Director of Wellness December 18, 2025 • 8:38 a.m. I am excited to share that we have named a Director of Wellness for the Academic Enterprise. Please join me in welcoming Julie Griffith, MPH, who will begin her new role at UTMB on Jan. 20, 2026. David Vines to Serve as SHP Senior VP and Dean December 17, 2025 • 3:17 p.m. David L. Vines, PhD, RRT, FAARC, FCCP, will serve as Senior Vice President and Dean, holding the Catherine L. Scholl, MD Distinguished Chair in Health Professions, effective Jan. 20, 2026. SON Senior VP and Dean to Depart, Accepts President Role at MGH Institute of Health Professions December 3, 2025 • 10:05 a.m. Deborah J. Jones, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, will depart UTMB to take on an exciting and significant new role as President of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute of Health Professions. Her last day at UTMB will be Jan. 16, 2026. Berenson named Vice Dean for Research, JSSOM November 21, 2025 • 1:53 p.m. I am pleased to announce that Abbey Berenson, MD, PhD, has accepted the new role of Vice Dean for Research at the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM), effective December 1, 2025. Dr. Susan Chubinskaya named Senior VP, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer November 20, 2025 • 10:14 a.m. Susan Chubinskaya, PhD, MS, has been appointed Senior Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer of The University of Texas Medical Branch. Gugala Named Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Career Advising, JSSOM November 5, 2025 • 9:05 a.m. I am pleased to announce that Zbigniew Gugala, MD, PhD, has accepted the new role of Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Career Advising at the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM), effective Nov. 1, 2025. Celebrating New Accreditations for the Health Education Center October 17, 2025 • 10:35 a.m. I am elated to congratulate our Health Education Center (HEC) team on achieving additional levels of accreditation in Human Simulation and Research from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). These new distinctions build upon the HEC’s 2024 SSH accreditations in Assessment and Teaching/Education, further highlighting the HEC’s commitment to excellence. Recognizing Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences Director for Three Decades of Service September 26, 2025 • 9:00 a.m. We are honored to announce the retirement of Alan Barrett, PhD, DSc (Hon), Professor and Director of the Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences in the John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB. Dr. Barrett has served UTMB with a distinguished career for 32 years, in the areas of research, education and administration. Recognizing Longtime Neurobiology Chair Chung for 44 Years of Service September 8, 2025 • 3:50 p.m. We are honored to announce the retirement of Jin Mo Chung, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurobiology in the John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB. Dr. Chung has served UTMB with distinction for 44 years, leaving an indelible mark on our institution through his leadership, research, and mentorship. Aiden Appointed Chair, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, JSSOM August 11, 2025 • 3:40 p.m. Erez Lieberman Aiden, PhD, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, effective Aug. 12, 2025. He will also serve as Professor of BioSciences at Rice University, strengthening ties between our institutions. We want your news! If you know of an Academic Enterprise news item that should be featured here, please let us know! It could be an award, a new appointment, or a great opportunity open to others in the AE. Contact a member of our AE Communications team to let us know.Cortney MartinManager, Communications and Community InitiativesEmail • (409) 772-0081Ashley TorresSenior Communications SpecialistEmail • (409) 266-4027Richard (Joey) McCuskerCommunications SpecialistEmail • (409) 266-9018Follow Us! Categories Clinical News (6) Education News (4) Faculty News (39) GSBS News (1) JSSOM News (15) Leadership Announcements (25) Our Students (5) Research News (13) SHP News (2) SON News (2) SPPH News (7) Search
Julie Griffith Named AE Director of Wellness December 18, 2025 • 8:38 a.m. I am excited to share that we have named a Director of Wellness for the Academic Enterprise. Please join me in welcoming Julie Griffith, MPH, who will begin her new role at UTMB on Jan. 20, 2026.
David Vines to Serve as SHP Senior VP and Dean December 17, 2025 • 3:17 p.m. David L. Vines, PhD, RRT, FAARC, FCCP, will serve as Senior Vice President and Dean, holding the Catherine L. Scholl, MD Distinguished Chair in Health Professions, effective Jan. 20, 2026.
SON Senior VP and Dean to Depart, Accepts President Role at MGH Institute of Health Professions December 3, 2025 • 10:05 a.m. Deborah J. Jones, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, will depart UTMB to take on an exciting and significant new role as President of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute of Health Professions. Her last day at UTMB will be Jan. 16, 2026.
Berenson named Vice Dean for Research, JSSOM November 21, 2025 • 1:53 p.m. I am pleased to announce that Abbey Berenson, MD, PhD, has accepted the new role of Vice Dean for Research at the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM), effective December 1, 2025.
Dr. Susan Chubinskaya named Senior VP, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer November 20, 2025 • 10:14 a.m. Susan Chubinskaya, PhD, MS, has been appointed Senior Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer of The University of Texas Medical Branch.
Gugala Named Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Career Advising, JSSOM November 5, 2025 • 9:05 a.m. I am pleased to announce that Zbigniew Gugala, MD, PhD, has accepted the new role of Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Career Advising at the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM), effective Nov. 1, 2025.
Celebrating New Accreditations for the Health Education Center October 17, 2025 • 10:35 a.m. I am elated to congratulate our Health Education Center (HEC) team on achieving additional levels of accreditation in Human Simulation and Research from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). These new distinctions build upon the HEC’s 2024 SSH accreditations in Assessment and Teaching/Education, further highlighting the HEC’s commitment to excellence.
Recognizing Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences Director for Three Decades of Service September 26, 2025 • 9:00 a.m. We are honored to announce the retirement of Alan Barrett, PhD, DSc (Hon), Professor and Director of the Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences in the John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB. Dr. Barrett has served UTMB with a distinguished career for 32 years, in the areas of research, education and administration.
Recognizing Longtime Neurobiology Chair Chung for 44 Years of Service September 8, 2025 • 3:50 p.m. We are honored to announce the retirement of Jin Mo Chung, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurobiology in the John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB. Dr. Chung has served UTMB with distinction for 44 years, leaving an indelible mark on our institution through his leadership, research, and mentorship.
Aiden Appointed Chair, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, JSSOM August 11, 2025 • 3:40 p.m. Erez Lieberman Aiden, PhD, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, effective Aug. 12, 2025. He will also serve as Professor of BioSciences at Rice University, strengthening ties between our institutions.