Shawn Gibbs reappointed to second term as School of Public Health dean

Shawn Gibbs, PhD, MBA, CIH, dean and professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, has been reappointed to a second five-year term by Texas A&M University. He has served as dean since May 1, 2020, and his new appointment runs through Aug. 31, 2029.

During his first term as dean, the school’s student body increased by more than 200 percent and now has the largest school of public health enrollment in Texas and fifth in the nation. Research funding has increased by 400 percent with new research awards topping $36 million. The school has expanded its online educational offerings, 30 new faculty have been hired totaling over 90 faculty, and staff numbers have nearly doubled in support of research and students.

With more than a hundred peer-reviewed articles, Gibbs is an internationally respected certified industrial hygienist whose expertise is in the disruption of highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19, mpox, highly pathogenic avian influenza, Ebola virus disease and others. He regularly lends his expertise and guidance to national and international organizations, including the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command and the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine through his appointment to the Committee on Respiratory Protection for the Public and Workers without Respiratory Protection Programs at their Workplaces.

In 2023, Gibbs was elected to the Board for Global Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Credentialing, the premier global credentialing body for environmental, health and safety professionals. He received  the 2022 Industrial Hygiene Impact Award from the same organization based on his research and development of best practices in response to globally emergent, highly infectious disease management, training, controls and policy.

Gibbs played an integral role in the COVID-19 pandemic through advising policymakers and organizational leaders. He was appointed to lead Texas A&M’s COVID-19 response and served on the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Medical Task Force. Because of his work, he received the Michael L. Slive Distinguished Service Award for his leadership and significant impact to the betterment of the SEC mission.

Previously, as director of research for the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (2009-2015), he coordinated research efforts across public health, medicine, nursing and other disciplines to protect health care workers who treat highly infectious patients. During the 2014 Ebola outbreaks, he collaborated with stakeholders to create policies and procedures that addressed the needs of the United States to serve Americans returning from overseas. He helped lead the repatriation of three individuals infected with the Ebola virus disease and dozens of other individuals with high-risk exposures. Through these efforts he helped establish the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center and remains involved in their efforts.

His research and teaching have been recognized with several awards, including the 2024 Eula Bingham Award for Excellence in OHS Education and Training from the American Public Health Association, 2018 American Industrial Hygiene Association’s Edward J. Baier Technical Achievement Award, 2017 Biomedical Research Exemplar Award, 2015 Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska for service to the State, and 2006-2007 U.S. Fulbright Faculty Scholar to Egypt. He has subsequently led three (Libya in 2013, Egypt in 2016 and 2017) Institutional Fulbright Faculty Scholars training programs for Public Health Curriculum Development.

Gibbs obtained a Bachelor of Science in biology at The Ohio State University. While working as a contractor for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, he attended the University of Cincinnati where he earned both a Master of Science in environmental engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy in environmental science. While serving as associate dean at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, he completed an MBA in agribusiness at the University of Nebraska.