Dear ColoradoSPH Community,
We are concerned by yesterday’s Supreme Court decision to effectively strike down affirmative action. We echo the sentiments of the leadership of the institutions partnering in the Colorado School of Public Health: CU President Todd Saliman and the four Chancellors, CU Anschutz Chancellor Don Elliman and Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs John Reilly, CSU President Amy Parsons, and UNC Vice-Presidents Cedric Howard and Tobias Guzmán. A statement from the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) comments: “The Court’s decision will drastically reduce enrollment of certain racial and ethnic groups within the health professions and negatively impact public health.” We share that concern.
As public health professionals, researchers, and advocates, we know how important it is to acknowledge inequity to achieve social justice and health for all. We also know that to meet the needs of the diverse populations that we serve, we must have a diverse workforce.
We are committed to advancing diversity in public health and we will continue to use a holistic admissions process to review our applicants, including understanding how each applicant’s life experience relates to their pursuit of a career in public health.
We will not be deterred in our efforts to bring more ColoradoSPH students from minoritized groups who will lead critical public health efforts in our communities.
We remain committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion and dismantling structural racism in all that we do.
Jonathan Samet, MD, MS
Dean, Colorado School of Public Health
Cathy J. Bradley, PhD
Incoming Dean, Professor, and Associate Dean for Research, Colorado School of Public Health
Paul A. Bunn, Jr. Endowed Chair in Cancer Research
Deputy Director, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center
February 27, 2024