UT School of Public Health San Antonio Appoints Carmen Valdez, PhD, as Founding Associate Dean of Research and Partnerships

The UT School of Public Health San Antonio is pleased to announce the appointment of Carmen R. Valdez, PhD, as the founding Associate Dean of Research and Partnerships. 

Previously, Valdez held a joint appointment at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work and Dell Medical School’s Department of Population Health. She also served as the faculty director of the Community-Driven Initiatives Program, which empowers local residents to address health issues in their communities.

Valdez has co-led community and academic coalitions that combine social capital, community expertise, and university resources to improve health access. Her research interests include understanding family stability and stress within the context of social policy, with a particular focus on the impact of immigration and health policy, neighborhood factors, and family dynamics on the health of Latino immigrant families. She has developed community-based, family-focused interventions to support these communities.

In her new role, Valdez will support the school’s research and scholarly activities, foster research partnerships with community and industry stakeholders, and represent the School of Public Health on institutional committees related to research and community engagement. She will also develop strategies to enhance the school’s local and national reputation.