School of Public Health names two new leaders
The School of Public Health at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has announced two new leadership positions to help guide the school forward in its transformative plan for the future.
Dr. Charlotte Noble has been promoted to assistant dean for curriculum and academic services. In this role, she will help shape the educational experience of SPH students by overseeing curriculum development, accreditation and academic services. Noble will work closely with the dean’s office, department chairs, faculty and other key stakeholders to ensure the highest standards of academic excellence, program development and student success.
Dr. Catherine Sembajwe-Reeves — who will serve as Master of Health Administration program director — has returned to HSC after working the last five years for Denton County Public Health. During that time, she served as privacy officer and as division manager, administration and compliance.
About Dr. Sembajwe-Reeves and HSC’s MHA program
Prior to joining Denton County Public Health, Sembajwe-Reeves worked as assistant director, academic affairs, for the HSC School of Public Health and as educational program assistant director for the HSC Institute for Patient Safety.
She holds a doctoral degree in organizational leadership/organizational development; a master’s degree in political science, international development policy and administration; and a bachelor’s degree in intercultural communications, with a concentration in international business administration and a certificate in international studies and world affairs.
Throughout her career in higher education, she has taught and assisted with professional development sessions, including portfolio preparation, resume and CV writing, academic conduct, international student assimilation, competency and learning outcome development and integration, and issues related to overall student development. She has administered team-based learning simulation/educational courses, taught leadership sessions and developed content for organizational training and orientation. She currently provides coaching and training in health care privacy/compliance, workforce development, business communication, quality improvement and organizational leadership.
“Returning to HSC feels like coming home. I am honored to join a team of amazing faculty and staff, and to have the opportunity to support our students toward leadership success in an ever-changing global health care environment,” Sembajwe-Reeves said.
HSC’s MHA program, offered both on campus and online, helps students become leaders who can affect meaningful change impacting health systems and communities. The online degree offers a 100% online, flexible program designed for working professionals.
HSC’s MHA program emphasizes the “business” aspect of health care, health policy and challenges facing the management of complex health care organizations.
HSC offers the only program exclusively based in North Texas that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education and is the first MHA program in the U.S. partnering with the National Association for Healthcare Quality to help students achieve the prestigious Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality credential.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sembajwe-Reeves back to HSC,” said Dr. Shafik Dharamsi, SPH dean. “Her extensive experience in higher education, public health and administration, program development, community partnerships and student mentorship will serve us well, and her dedication to student success will be key in preparing them for meaningful and fulfilling leadership positions in health care after graduation.”
About Dr. Noble
Noble is an assistant professor of population and community health who has been involved in community and public health research for more than 16 years. She has taught courses and workshops on topics including community assessment, program planning, biological and cultural anthropology, food security and nutritional assessment, urban gardens, maternal and child health, as well as qualitative, evaluation and applied research methods.
As part of her previous work, with a pipeline training program funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, she trained and mentored undergraduate and graduate students, including many first-generation college students, with a focus on building academic, professional and research skills.
“Having been a first-generation and non-traditional college student myself, I am passionate about fostering a supportive learning culture,” Dr. Noble said. “I am excited to work together with students, faculty, our community and other stakeholders to ensure that our curriculum supports our mission to empower a community-centric public health workforce and prepare future leaders for the ever-evolving landscape of public health research.”
Since her arrival at HSC in early 2020, Dr. Noble has served as an SPH accreditation leader, coordinating the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accreditation-related activities for the SPH.
She has also served in an integral role on the school’s Council on Education for Public Health self-study team since 2021. She has regularly sought community input on curriculum matters as part of her work as a faculty course coordinator with the SPH student practice experience program.
“Dr. Noble has played a key role in all accreditation-related matters and provided expert guidance on curriculum development – ensuring that our graduates will be competent, compassionate and committed public health practitioners and leaders,” Dharamsi said. “She is deeply invested in student success, having served for more than three years on ‘Be Well,’ the university’s quality enhancement plan, which is a five-year project focused on student well-being.”
“I am confident that Dr. Noble’s expertise, dedication, wealth of experience and commitment to educational excellence will contribute significantly to the continued success of our School of Public Health,” he added.
Noble holds a Ph.D. in applied anthropology, as well as a dual MA/MPH and a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in anthropology.
She is a member of the American Public Health Association and the American Anthropological Association, where she previously served as Chair of the AIDS and Anthropology Special Interest Group. She currently serves on the board for EPIC, Tampa Bay, which provides comprehensive resources for the prevention, treatment and care of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities.
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