New Horizons for Public Health: Celebrating the Opening of School’s Renovated Home

Thursday, April 6, 2024 marked a significant moment at the School of Public Health as it celebrated the opening of its new home in the renovated Edna S. Brigham Building. The occasion began with a ribbon cutting ceremony and featured opening remarks from University leadership.

President Sandoval took the opportunity to highlight the School’s impact within the community, emphasizing its role in preparing students for leadership positions in the future of public health in Nevada and beyond. He commended the School for its work in policy implementation, systemic change, health program development and evaluation, wide-scale service provision, and innovative research.

Dean Akpinar-Elci, who has led the School since Fall 2021, also spoke at the event. In her address, she reflected on the journey that led to the opening of the new building and expressed her gratitude for the collaborative effort that made it possible. She stressed that the celebration was not just about bricks and walls but about people who had worked tirelessly to bring their shared vision to life.

She praised those who had gone above and beyond to create a space where passion could meet purpose and emphasized that success of this project was truly a result of collective efforts of all those involved. The event served as a reminder of School’s commitment to excellence and its dedication to advancing public health both locally and globally.

The renovation project began in 2019 with a $45 million investment from private donors aimed at expanding space for classrooms, research labs, faculty offices and student housing units. It also included updating existing infrastructure such as HVAC systems and electrical wiring.

As Dean Akpinar-Elci mentioned during her speech “This building is not just ours but belongs to everyone who will walk through these doors”. She said “We hope that this building will inspire future generations of public health leaders by providing them with an environment where they can learn, grow and innovate.”

The renovation project was completed on time despite challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemic which forced temporary shutdowns and delays in construction materials delivery.

Overall it was a momentous occasion for School of Public Health community as they finally got their new home that will enable them to continue their mission of promoting better health outcomes for individuals, families