Contributed/ETSU

East Tennessee State University appointed Dr. Robert Pack as dean of the College of Public Health on July 1.

Pack succeeds Dr. Randy Wykoff, the college’s founding dean, who retired at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. Following Wykoff’s retirement, ETSU conducted a national search for the college’s next dean. Ultimately, the search ended close to home.

Pack, an East Tennessee native, has worked at ETSU for nearly two decades, serving in roles within the College of Public Health and in university leadership. Most recently, he served as executive vice provost and director of the ETSU Addiction Science Center.

While Wykoff became a notable figure across ETSU’s campus during his time as founding dean, Pack shares a similar vision for the college.

“I love discovery. I feel like the university should be a place where we’re training and facilitating the education of people who are hungry for new knowledge,” Pack said. “We as faculty are also hungry for new knowledge — and that’s the kind of environment we want to create.”

Before his career began at ETSU, Pack received a Master of Public Health and Doctor of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As a researcher, he has published work since 2005, focusing primarily on harm reduction and substance use disorder.

Pack’s research in addiction science also earned him a spot at the Chronic Disease of Addiction National Transformation Forum, hosted by the Great American Recovery Initiative in Washington D.C., on Aug. 26.

In 2009, ETSU’s College of Public Health became the only Council on Education for Public Health- accredited college in Tennessee and the central Appalachian region. Since then, the college, its faculty and students have received national recognition and numerous awards, including ranking in the top third of public health graduate schools nationwide, according to U.S. News & World Report.

As Pack steps away from his role as executive vice provost and returns to the College of Public Health, he said he wants the college to help strengthen a culture of community across the university.

“Our university is full of transformational leaders. I think about Willie Bishop, Burt Bach, and of course, Dr. Noland,” Pack said. “I also really strongly desire for the College of Public Health to be leading the way in building a culture of community. In some ways, my job is just going to be ensuring students and faculty are able to work together to do high impact cool stuff.”

Pack also encouraged ETSU students to make the most of their time at the university by becoming involved on campus.

“Deeply engage with the institution. Really get involved with student organizations, with your peers. Try to learn how to lead stuff,” Pack said. “College is the perfect time to develop your leadership skills — see what works, what doesn’t. There’s no better time than right now.”

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