The (COPH) welcomed several new faculty and staff members this summer while also celebrating members of the COPH community who stepped into new roles.
From university and college leadership to teaching, research, academic affairs and administration, these appointments bring new expertise and familiar faces to positions supporting the college鈥檚 mission.
Dr. Derek Wildman named dean of Office of Graduate Studies
Derek Wildman, PhD, MA (Photo courtesy of Wildman)
, an internationally recognized scholar, researcher and academic leader, was named dean of the USF Office of Graduate Studies.
Wildman, professor in the , has made nationally recognized contributions to genomics, public health and precision medicine. He has led major federally funded research initiatives, published extensively in leading journals and built a distinguished record of mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
As dean, Wildman will provide strategic leadership for graduate education and postdoctoral affairs across USF, working with colleges and academic units to strengthen graduate recruitment, student success, academic excellence, professional development and career outcomes.
鈥淕raduate students and postdoctoral scholars are essential to the university's research, innovation and academic mission,鈥 Wildman said. 鈥淚 look forward to working with our faculty, staff and students to create an exceptional graduate experience that supports discovery, scholarly achievement and career success.鈥
Undergraduate studies welcomes new instructors
Several new instructors joined this summer, bringing experience spanning public health practice, epidemiology, education and program evaluation.
Kimberly Taylor, PhD, MPH, MS (Photo courtesy of Taylor)
Dr. Kimberly 鈥淜im鈥 Taylor joined the COPH as an instructor I. An experienced epidemiologist and educator, Taylor brings expertise in epidemiologic principles, surveillance systems and data-driven analysis. Her career has included senior positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she worked with federal, state, local and health care partners on disease surveillance, data quality management, trend analysis and outbreak detection.
Mario Vargas, MPH, CPH (Photo courtesy of Vargas)
Mario Vargas joined the COPH as an instructor I, bringing 10 years of experience in education. He spent seven years as a K-12 science teacher and three years working in higher education, specifically in residence life.
A double Bull and COPH alumnus, Vargas was part of one of the early cohorts to earn a from the college in 2012.
Rachel Kehoe, MPH, CPH (Photo courtesy of Kehoe)
Rachel Kehoe joined undergraduate studies as an instructor I, continuing a public health journey that began as a COPH student. A double alumna, Kehoe earned both her bachelor of science in public health and from the college and brings nonprofit and governmental public health experience to her new position.
Champaigne Spivey, MPH, CPH, CLC (Photo courtesy of Spivey)
Champaigne Spivey stepped into a new role as an instructor I after spending the past three years as a program evaluator for the .
A COPH master of public health alumna, Spivey led training evaluation, assessment development, data analysis and reporting across DISTA program components. Her work included developing quantitative and qualitative assessment tools, creating evaluation dashboards in Excel and Tableau and presenting findings at national conferences, including NACCHO. Previously, she worked with local Early Head Start and Head Start programs to develop, implement and evaluate early childhood health and nutrition programs in coordination with the Florida Department of Health.
Sather lab expands malaria research team
The laboratory of welcomed two postdoctoral scholars whose research will contribute to the development of new approaches to malaria prevention and treatment.
Ifra Hassan, PhD (Photo courtesy of Hassan)
Dr. Ifra Hassan earned her doctorate from Ehime University in Japan, where her research focused on malaria immunology and naturally acquired immune responses to Plasmodium falciparum. Before joining USF, Hassan conducted research in Japan, Australia and Portugal, gaining experience in infectious disease research and immunology.
At USF, Hassan will study how naturally acquired human antibodies protect against malaria and use those findings to support the development of next-generation malaria vaccines.
Harshita Sharma, PhD (Photo courtesy of Sharma)
Dr. Harshita Sharma earned her doctorate in medical parasitology and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research experience includes immunology, structural biology, HLA antibody epitope mapping and infectious diseases.
At USF, Sharma will focus on malaria therapeutics, developing novel therapeutic strategies and advancing translational research to improve malaria prevention and treatment.
Educational Technology and Assessment adds learning designer
James Welch, MS (Photo courtesy of Welch)
James Welch joined the as a learning designer.
Before joining the COPH, Welch spent five years supporting the Department of Psychology in the USF College of Arts and Sciences as an academic program specialist on the St. Petersburg campus. He earned a master of science in learning design and technology from the USF College of Education in Fall 2025.
Welch is interested in creating engaging, accessible learning experiences and researching student motivation and engagement in online learning environments. In his new role, he will collaborate with faculty to enhance teaching and learning across the college.
New administrator supports college operations
Angie Lillard, MBA (Photo courtesy of Lillard)
Angie Lillard joined the COPH as senior business administrator, bringing more than 20 years of experience in talent, people operations and business administration.
A USF MBA alumna, Lillard most recently worked in the market research startup sector, where she helped grow and scale an organization from 60 to more than 220 employees globally. Her experience includes building relationships, strengthening organizational processes and supporting growing teams.