FAMU Appoints Vanessa B. Sheppard as Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences/Institute of Public Health

The American Cancer Society Researcher of the Year to also serve as AVP for Health Science Enterprise and Research Innovation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University (FAMU) proudly announces the appointment of internationally recognized scientist, Vanessa B. Sheppard, Ph.D., as dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences/Institute of Public Health (CoPPS-IPH) and assistant vice president for Health Science Enterprise and Research Innovation. Known as one of the nation's foremost experts in cancer prevention, health equity, and community-engaged research, Sheppard will commence her new roles effective August 3, 2026.

“Florida A&M University stands alone as the nation’s only College of Pharmacy to house a fully accredited Institute of Public Health — a distinction that is not incidental, but foundational to who we are and where we are going. Dr. Sheppard’s record as a scientist, an educator, and a builder of high-performing academic enterprises reflects the caliber of leadership this moment demands. In Dr. Sheppard, we have found a leader whose life’s work in cancer prevention and health equity mirrors our own mission to serve those our state and nation depend on us to reach. She will strengthen our licensure outcomes. She will cultivate the public-private partnerships that translate discovery into practice. And she will advance the public responsibility entrusted to us as an 1890 Land-Grant institution — building the workforce and research capacity our state and nation require to meet their health care priorities. Her arrival affirms what we have long known: that FAMU’s future as a national leader in health sciences is not a distant aspiration, but a present reality,” said President Marva B. Johnson, J.D.

Sheppard succeeds Seth Y. Ablordeppey, Ph.D., who has served as interim dean since September 2024 and will continue his distinguished three-decade career on the CoPPS-IPH faculty, teaching in the Doctor of Pharmacy program and the medicinal chemistry graduate program.

“Dr. Ablordeppey has given this College more than three decades of his scholarship and his service, stepping forward not once but twice to steady its leadership when called upon. That is the mark of a true Rattler. I am deeply grateful for his stewardship as Interim Dean, and I look forward to his continued leadership in the classroom and the laboratory as we advance the College’s mission together,” said Johnson.

As a recipient of the American Cancer Society Researcher of the Year Award, Sheppard has secured more than $30 million in competitive federal and foundation research funding throughout her distinguished career as principal investigator or multi-principal investigator, including major awards from the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Science Foundation, American Cancer Society, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Stand Up To Cancer, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). She has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications, positioning her among the nation's most influential researchers in cancer prevention, survivorship, medication adherence, health disparities, and community-engaged translational science.

“Dr. Sheppard is the right leader for this pivotal moment in the evolution of pharmaceutical sciences, clinical practice, and public health,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Allyson Watson, Ph.D. “ Her expertise, collaborative leadership, and commitment to innovation will strengthen our academic enterprise, expand research excellence, and prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Sheppard recently served as the founding dean of the School of Public Health at Virginia Commonwealth University. Before joining VCU, Dr. Sheppard was a tenured faculty member at Georgetown University in the Department of Oncology. While at Georgetown, she received national recognition as an NIH Health Disparities Scholar, earned institutional honors for her research and mentoring, served as Research Director for the Latin American Cancer Research Coalition, and was Assistant Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. During her VCU tenure, she also served as associate vice president for Population and Public Health Strategic Initiatives, professor and endowed chair, and senior leader within the nationally recognized Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. In establishing VCU's School of Public Health, Sheppard led one of the nation's fastest-growing schools of public health. Under her leadership, the school:

• Increased research expenditures by 58%, reaching $9.5 million annually;
• Increased student enrollment by 50%;
• Successfully achieved CEPH approval to establish a School of Public Health;
• Developed new undergraduate and graduate academic programs;
• Achieved a Top-50 national ranking in federal research funding among public schools of public health; and
• Established new records in philanthropic giving and strategic partnerships.

Beyond her remarkable research accomplishments, Sheppard has successfully recruited and mentored nationally competitive faculty, expanded interdisciplinary research collaborations, strengthened graduate education, developed innovative workforce initiatives, increased clinical research participation by more than 50%, and dramatically expanded community engagement efforts reaching over 80,000 residents across Virginia through research, education, prevention, and outreach initiatives.

In her role as assistant vice president for Health Science Enterprise and Research Innovation, Sheppard will work closely with Donald E. Palm III, Ph.D., executive vice president for Health Science Enterprise and Research Innovation to advance the strategic priorities of FAMU's newly established Health Science Enterprise. In this enterprise-wide leadership role, she will help develop and expand interdisciplinary research initiatives, strengthen partnerships with healthcare systems, industry, federal agencies, and community organizations, accelerate faculty research productivity, expand doctoral education and graduate research training, cultivate philanthropic investments, and position FAMU as a national destination for health sciences innovation.

"Dr. Sheppard is precisely the caliber of visionary leader needed to elevate Florida A&M University's Health Science Enterprise to unprecedented levels of excellence," said Palm.. "She brings an exceptional record of research productivity, national leadership, philanthropic success, interdisciplinary collaboration, and transformational academic administration. Her appointment significantly strengthens FAMU's pathway to Carnegie R1 status while expanding our national reputation in pharmaceutical sciences, public health, translational research, and health innovation."

Her leadership will also play a pivotal role in advancing FAMU's strategic pursuit of Carnegie Research 1 (R1) classification by:

• Expanding federally funded research across the Health Science Enterprise;
• Recruiting and developing nationally competitive research faculty;
• Increasing doctoral education and research training opportunities;
• Enhancing interdisciplinary team science across pharmacy, nursing, allied health sciences, public health, and biomedical research;
• Strengthening commercialization, innovation, and industry partnerships;
• Growing research infrastructure and clinical research capacity; and
• Building sustainable collaborations that increase research expenditures, doctoral productivity, and national competitiveness.

"Florida A&M University represents one of the most exciting opportunities in higher education today," said Sheppard. "The University's commitment to academic excellence, health equity, research innovation, student success, and community transformation aligns perfectly with my life's work. I am honored to join the FAMU family and look forward to working alongside outstanding faculty, students, alumni, healthcare partners, and community stakeholders to elevate the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences/Institute of Public Health and advance the University's bold vision of becoming a premier Research 1 institution."

Sheppard's appointment further demonstrates Florida A&M University's continued investment in world-class leadership and reinforces the University's commitment to becoming the nation's premier public HBCU for health sciences education, research, innovation, workforce development, and transformative community impact.

Media Contact:
Alonda Thomas, Ph.D.
VP, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Alonda.Thomas@FAMU.edu

 

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