VOL. 127 | NO. 134 | Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Memphis Newsmakers
Levy Named Assistant Dean in U of M School of Public Health
By Kate Simone
Dr. Marian Levy has been named assistant dean of students and public health practice for the University of Memphis School of Public Health. Levy is also an associate professor in the school and is the current president of the Tennessee Public Health Association.
Hometown: Memphis
Education/work experience: Bachelor of Science in psychology, Tulane University; Master of Science, dietetics/nutrition, Florida International University; doctorate in public health, UCLA. A registered dietitian, I have conducted several research initiatives to reduce pediatric obesity and promote health equity. As a consultant to the Shelby County Health Department, I developed the county’s pandemic influenza plan.
Family: My three children
Favorite quote: “It’s not where you start that counts, it’s where you finish.”
Favorite movie: “The Shawshank Redemption”
The sports team(s) you root for: The Memphis Tigers, of course!
What’s playing on your stereo right now? Any song by The Beatles or Aretha Franklin
Activities you enjoy outside of work: Walking, gardening
What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could sing as well as some of my friends in the School of Public Health!
Who has had the greatest influence on you? My parents. As immigrants to America, they conveyed values of integrity, perseverance, independent thought and social justice. Also, I have always looked up to my brother, Dr. Joe Levy, as a role model for treating others with dignity and compassion.
What are your goals as assistant dean of students and public health practice? A primary goal is to ensure a vibrant, enriching academic experience for students in the MHA, MPH and doctoral programs in the School of Public Health. This entails maintaining strong collaborations with our public health partners at the local, state and national levels so that students gain “real-world” experience that prepares them for leadership roles as health care executives, public health practitioners, researchers or academicians.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment(s)? On a personal basis, it would be raising three bright, caring, accomplished children, of whom I am very proud. Professionally, it is seeing students I have mentored attain meaningful, impactful careers.
What do you most enjoy about your work? It’s very exciting to work with colleagues and students of various backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities toward a common goal: improving the health of communities. In a new School of Public Health like ours, we can celebrate many “firsts,” such as moving into a new building, graduating students in various concentrations, having doctoral programs approved and receiving a maximum seven-year (Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education) re-accreditation.
If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? Follow your passion and develop the discipline it takes to accomplish your goals. Become a “Dreamer. Thinker. Doer.”
Michael A. Womack has joined AutoZone Inc. as senior vice president Human Resources, Customer Satisfaction. Womack will serve on the company’s executive committee.
Patrick Neal has been named principal owner of engineering and architecture firm Pickering Firm Inc. Neal has worked in Pickering’s Memphis office for 17 years. In addition, Bill Selkirk has joined Pickering’s Memphis office as senior electrical engineer, and Sarah Mercer has joined the office as structural engineer intern.
Chris Vernon has joined 92.9 FM ESPN radio as host of The Chris Vernon Show weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The station is owned by Entercom Communications Corp.
Lucian Pera of the Memphis office of Adams and Reese LP law firm, has been recognized in the 2012 Chambers USA directory in the general commercial litigation category.
Don Cockroft has earned the Certified Residential Specialist real estate designation. Cockroft is a licensed broker based in Crye-Leike Realtors’ corporate headers in Memphis.
The Memphis chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals has elected its 2012-2013 offices. They are: Viola Cage, president; Patricia Cook, president-elect; Artie Watson, vice president; Tammie Vogel, secretary; Sharon Gardner, treasurer; and Mary Sellers, Rita Jackson and Maxine Shepard, directors.
John Horne has joined Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon Inc. as a civil engineer. Prior to joining Barge Waggoner, Horne was a private engineering consultant with the city of Bartlett.
Debbie Riley has joined Argyle Benefits Consultants as account manager. Riley will help clients find and administer benefits solutions. She previously served as director of specialist services at Strategic Financial Partners.
Valerie Robilio Burrow, a senior public relations coordinator for Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp., has graduated from the Leadership Academy Fellows program. Burrow joined BMHCC in 1999.
Chester Sokolowski and Lars Beshaw have joined the Green Ballast Inc. sales team. Each has more than 15 years of experience in the lighting industry.