Associate Dean and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences Stephen 
Hooper, PhD, will step down from his roles in July 2024. Hooper has been a faculty member in the UNC School of Medicine for 36 years and has served in his current roles since 2013.
“I truly believe that the Department of Health Sciences is a key jewel in the crown of the UNC School of Medicine, particularly with respect to our education mission and our contributions to being the leading public school of medicine in the country,” Hooper said. “I am proud and grateful to have had the privilege to serve in this role. I am indebted to all of the faculty, staff and students who have contributed to making this a great run as I could not have done any of this without their wisdom, guidance and dedication, and I trust that this will be a fantastic opportunity for the next associate dean and chair.”
Under his leadership the Department of Health Sciences has established strong relationships across UNC Health, contributing to important partnerships across clinical, research and teaching missions. Additionally, Hooper’s work improved the department’s fiscal performance, increasing revenue, research funding and research productivity. Student enrollment also has increased, along with national rankings, graduation rates, and strong job placements in North Carolina for graduates.
During his time as associate dean and chair, the department also refreshed its infrastructure to be able to respond to the changing healthcare landscape, which proved successful during rapidly changing work and learning experiences through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hooper joined the UNC School of Medicine in 1987 from Penn State University’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He received his MA in clinical psychology from Western Kentucky University and PhD in school psychology from the University of Georgia. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in child neuropsychology at Brown University.
A national search is will soon launch for Hooper’s successor.