Twenty years ago, UNMC launched a bold experiment: to build a modern shield for community health from the ground up.
On July 28, 2006, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents unanimously approved the creation of the UNMC College of Public Health — the first new college established at UNMC in nearly 40 years. Born out of a vital need to address emerging health threats and systemic inequities, the college has spent the last two decades evolving from a visionary regional asset into an international vanguard for public health education, research and frontline response.
As the college marks this 20-year milestone, it does so under a banner that defines both its legacy and its future: “Science, Service and Solidarity.”
“This anniversary isn’t just a look in the rearview mirror; it is a launchpad,” said Ali S. Khan, MD, MPH, dean of the UNMC College of Public Health. “Twenty years ago, this college made a promise to protect the health of Nebraskans and serve as a beacon for global health security. Today, we aren’t just celebrating what we built — we are committing ourselves to the next generation of health challenges.”
The college’s trajectory has been defined by three enduring pillars:
- Science that Protects: From the collaborative labs of the Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center for Public Health to field research in agricultural safety, maternal health and environmental toxins, the college’s faculty have driven breakthroughs that redefine disease prevention. It has become a premier global authority on infectious disease dynamics and health security and is co-leading the effort to create the only comprehensive cancer center in Nebraska.
- Service that Empowers: Rooted in Nebraska but global in scope, the college has trained thousands of public health professionals. By training practicing professionals and embedding students and researchers directly within local health departments, state agencies and community organizations, the college turns academic knowledge into immediate, life-saving practice.
- Solidarity that Unites: When global crises strike — from localized rural health disparities to historic pandemic threats — the college has consistently stood shoulder-to-shoulder with vulnerable populations. Its mission is anchored in the belief that public health is an act of solidarity, ensuring health equity across geographic, racial and economic divides.
To mark the anniversary, the college unveiled a commemorative visual identity. The 20th-anniversary logo features 20 rays extending outward, symbolizing two decades of expanding global footprint, woven with five distinct colors that represent the interconnected academic disciplines driving the college forward.
UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, said the UNMC College of Public Health’s impact has been felt well beyond Nebraska over the past two decades.
“For 20 years, the UNMC College of Public Health has played a leading and vital role in advancing the health and well-being of people and communities across Nebraska and around the world. I congratulate Dean Khan and all of the faculty, staff, students, alumni, partners and supporters — past and present — whose dedication and vision have made the college what it is today.”
“Public health is an active, living commitment,” Dean Khan said. “As we enter our third decade, our vision remains fiercely unchanged: to create the healthiest people and places worldwide through relentless innovation and an unwavering belief that health is a human right.”
Throughout the upcoming year, the UNMC College of Public Health will host a series of public events, alumni spotlights and storytelling initiatives to honor the students, faculty, staff and community partners who built this legacy. The UNMC community is encouraged to check the college’s anniversary landing page for additional historical information, upcoming events, oral histories, spotlights and more.