Dean Olden Receives Distinguished Leadership Award from University of Iowa College of Public Health

The University of Iowa College of Public Health has named renowned environmental health scientist and environmental justice advocate Kenneth Olden, founding dean of the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College, the recipient of the 2011 Richard and Barbara Hansen Leadership Award and Distinguished Lectureship. The Hansen Award is given annually by the UI College of Public Health to honor individuals who have made sustained contributions in the health field. The award recognizes exemplary leadership, high ethical standards and an enduring commitment to improving health care on a national and international level.

"Dr. Olden is a long-time champion of community participation in the full spectrum of environmental health research," said Sue Curry, PhD, dean of the UI College of Public Health. "We are extremely pleased to host him at the University of Iowa and to honor him with our college's most notable award."

Before coming to Hunter, Olden served as director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the director of the National Toxicology Program. Under Olden's leadership, NIEHS moved toward integrating basic research, toxicology, public health and environmental justice initiatives, positioning the institute to play an increasingly important role as public policy makers seek to balance human health needs with the economic benefits of commercial processes that might endanger that health.

As the recipient of the Hansen Award, Olden delivered the Hansen Distinguished Lecture at "Engaging Communities to Advance Environmental Health Policy," a national conference in Iowa City on September 8.