Washington Business Journal

Melissa J. Perry named Top 2025 Health Care Innovator by Washington Business Journal

Taylor Thomas — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:29:22 +0000

Melissa J. Perry named Top 2025 Health Care Innovator by Washington Business Journal Taylor Thomas Thu, 08/28/2025 - 10:29

In This Story

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA

The Washington Business Journal has named Melissa J. Perry, renowned environmental and occupational health scientist and inaugural dean of the College of Public Health, to the list of top 12 Health Education Innovators.

Melissa J. Perry, Inagural Dean of the College of Public Health

The Innovator in Health Care award is bestowed annually to Greater Washington’s clinical and business leaders working to solve the industry’s biggest challenges. The honor reflects Perry’s commitment to a technology-first, human-centered approach to public health education.

“This award reflects the commitment and achievements of the faculty and staff in the College of Public Health who strive for innovative solutions to improve public health each day. Together, we reimagine how immersive, interdisciplinary, and globally informed learning experiences can prepare students for health careers. I am deeply honored to represent the college as an innovator in health education,” said Dean Perry.

Under Perry’s leadership, the college has earned national recognition for its technology-enhanced curriculum. She championed the expansion of the Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation, a simulation-based workforce development and research center that offers students real-world scenarios to hone their skills before entering the field. From social work students navigating complex client interactions to nursing students providing life-saving care in a virtual hospital, the Lab engages students in technologically driven education singularly available at the college. The college is also the first public health institution in the world to be accredited by the prestigious Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

The college recently became the first in Virginia to be awarded accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health. This accreditation affirms that �鶹��Ƶ's public health programs provide the comprehensive, interdisciplinary training essential for cultivating the next generation of leaders in vital fields such as community health, epidemiology, global health, health policy, and health services research.

A renowned epidemiologist and environmental and reproductive health expert, Perry has been at the forefront of improving population health regionally and globally. Perry champions cross-national public health collaboration and facilitates scientific dialogue that transcends borders. She has published over 170 frequently cited manuscripts, technical reports, book chapters, commentaries, and book reviews that have furthered the field of epidemiology. Her research has been cited over 7,000 times. Perry is also a regular contributor to Psychology Today through her insightful column, The Mindful Epidemiologist. Perry’s impact as a scientist and educator has earned her the title of one of Northern Virginia’s top 50 most influential people, according to Northern Virginia Magazine.

Recently, Perry graduated with an MBA from George �鶹��Ƶ’s Costello College of Business, expanding her expertise to include the cross-section of public health and business strategy.

As a leading voice for innovation, Perry envisions the Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation as a place where all College of Public Health students can build cutting-edge skills well into the future.

Topics

College of Public Health

Public health leadership

Leadership

Washington Business Journal

Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation

Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Faculty and Staff News

Alumni

Jeannette Chapman of �鶹��Ƶ’s Fuller Institute Named a Top 40 Under 40

Mariam Aburdeineh — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Jeannette Chapman of �鶹��Ƶ’s Fuller Institute Named a Top 40 Under 40 Mariam Aburdeineh Wed, 09/02/2020 - 01:00

Jeannette Chapman talks during a panel discussion about Amazon's selection of Arlington for a second headquarters held by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments hosted by George �鶹��Ƶ. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Strategic Communications

When it comes to making informed decisions for government, businesses, and the community, it’s important to have lots of information. For the Greater Washington area, leaders in those spheres rely on reports and analyses to ensure the best choices are made for the region’s future. In many ways, they are relying on Jeannette Chapman.

Chapman, the director of �鶹��Ƶ’s Stephen S. Fuller Institute, is a leading analyst who provides critical insight on the region’s economy. In July, she was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 by Washington Business Journal (WBJ).

“One of the things I always appreciate about the [WBJ] lists is that they do find the people that are behind the scenes,” said Chapman, a Richmond native and graduate of �鶹��Ƶ’s master’s in public policy program. “It’s a fantastic recognition and I’m very pleased to be in such good company.”

Nominations for the list come from WBJ readers and the region’s business community. Alumni of the 40 Under 40 program and WBJ editors then evaluate nominees based on “the impact each individual has made within their industry and the work they have accomplished in the community through philanthropic work,” said Emily VanZandt, WBJ special projects editor.

Chapman, who has worked at �鶹��Ƶ since 2013, became director of the Fuller Institute last year, after the center’s namesake retired.

“Jeannette has convincingly settled the issue whether anyone could ably replace the great Steve Fuller after his five-decades run as the leading analyst of the D.C. regional economy,” said Schar School of Policy and Government Dean Mark J. Rozell. “The Fuller Institute has not missed a step with the transition to her leadership.”

Others who have worked with both economists agree.

“Having worked closely with Steve Fuller for more than 10 years through the 2030 Group, I can attest to his thorough knowledge of our region and regional economy,” said 2030 Group President Bob Buchanan. “Jeannette was Steve’s assistant who learned so well that she was everyone’s choice to succeed Steve upon his retirement.”

“Equally important was the appreciation of Jeannette’s youth, energy and commitment to comprehend the unprecedented transformation going on in our region at this seminal time,” he said.

On any given day, Chapman researches what she calls “the fundamentals”—trends facing the housing market, employment or demographics. She also explores time-sensitive topics, such government shutdowns or the arrival of Amazon HQ2. Recently, she has focused on how COVID is impacting the economy.

“It’s exciting,” Chapman said. “At the end of the day, we will all need this information.”

That’s especially true for evaluating public policy.

“The goal is to frame two scenarios,” Chapman said, “in the absence of an intervention and with one.”

Her analysis has impact, but it is not easy. Depending on the topic, the research could take more than a year. That’s par for the course when analyzing abstract problems, Chapman said, but she’s passionate about it.

“I like not knowing what I’m going to learn each day,” she said. “I go in with a research question and I don’t have an answer. That’s the ideal situation.”

Schar School of Policy and Government

Schar School

Washington Business Journal

Leadership

Washington metro region

Fuller Institute

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�鶹��Ƶ gains ground as one of the largest D.C.-area employers

Melanie Balog — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 17:22:54 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ gains ground as one of the largest D.C.-area employers Melanie Balog Mon, 07/15/2019 - 13:22

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Washington Business Journal

D.C. metro region

enrollment growth

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