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Rifat Atun, a Turkish Cypriot scientist, has become the first person of Turkish origin to serve as a dean at Harvard, taking charge of education and innovation at the university’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Andrea Baccarelli, dean of the school, announced the appointment, and Atun, a professor and prolific health researcher, has already started in the role.
The appointment was also publicized by the Turkish Health Institutes Presidency (TUSEB), which described it as one of the most significant leadership achievements by a Turkish academic on the international stage.
In his new position, Atun will oversee the strategic management of the school’s degree programs, certificate courses, professional development offerings, and short-term courses.
He will also lead efforts to bring artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies into the curriculum.
Atun has published over 500 articles in leading journals, including The Lancet, the New England Journal of Medicine, and Nature Medicine.
He said he hoped his appointment to a top leadership post at Harvard would serve as a source of motivation and inspiration for young people, particularly those from Turkish Cypriot backgrounds.
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