The Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop) is pleased to announce that Dr. Miruna Buta has been appointed Program Director for the department’s Master of Public Health and Master of Science programs, effective July 1, 2026.
In this newly unified leadership role, Dr. Buta will oversee the Health Systems and Population Health MPH, Health Systems and Population Health MS, Community-Oriented Public Health Practice MPH, and Online MPH programs. The transition to a single program director model reflects the department’s commitment to strengthening collaboration, ensuring consistency across programs, and advancing excellence in public health education.
“Dr. Buta is a highly respected and accomplished leader within our department,” said HSPop department chair Dr. Megha Ramaswamy. “Her experience, vision, and dedication to student success uniquely position her to lead our MPH & MS programs into their next chapter.”
Dr. Buta brings extensive experience to the role. She has served as Director of the Online Master of Public Health (OMPH) program since 2020, after previously serving as Associate Director from 2018 to 2020. During her tenure, she guided the program through its transition to a fully online format and oversaw the integration of the MPH Core curriculum. This work required sustained collaboration among faculty and staff, as well as a thoughtful approach to innovation and change management.
Beyond her leadership of the OMPH program, Dr. Buta has made significant contributions across the department. She has chaired the Curriculum Committee, taught in the MPH Core, led the Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration, and emerged as a thought leader in the use of artificial intelligence and alternative grading practices in higher education. Through these efforts, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student-centered learning.
The department also extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Clarence Spigner and Dr. Stephanie Farquhar, whose leadership has helped shape and strengthen HSPop’s graduate programs.
Dr. Spigner served as MPH-MS Program Director from 2017 to 2026 and led HSPop’s undergraduate public health and global health electives from 2017 to 2025. Throughout his tenure, he has been a steadfast advocate for students and for advancing justice in public health education. He will continue serving the department as Professor, teaching in both HSPop MPH programs and the MPH Core, while also leading a longstanding study abroad program.
Dr. Farquhar served as Interim Program Director of the Community-Oriented Public Health Practice MPH program from 2021 to 2022 before being appointed Program Director following a national search in 2022. Her leadership fostered strong connections among students, faculty, and staff, and helped further the program’s mission and impact. She will continue in her roles as Professor in HSPop, instructor in the MPH Core, and Associate Dean for Faculty in the School of Public Health.
“Both Drs. Spigner and Farquhar have made lasting contributions to the strength and impact of our MPH and MS programs,” said Dr. Ramaswamy. “We are deeply grateful for their dedication to our department and school.”
As HSPop transitions to this new leadership structure, faculty and staff will continue to play an important role in shaping the future of the department’s graduate programs through ongoing dialogue and collaboration.