Top 10 reasons why Bob Gold was a great dean

As the School of Public Health welcomes Dr. Jane Clark as our new dean this month, we also thank and recognize our outgoing dean, Dr. Bob Gold, for his steadfast leadership over the past ten years. At the school's spring assembly in May, Dr. Jane Clark and Dr. Robin Sawyer offered this list of reasons why Bob was a great dean. In case you're wondering, Dr. Gold will remain on the faculty of the Department of Behavioral and Community Health after taking a well-deserved sabbatical. Regarding #5, you'll have to ask him about the tattoos as we don't have any photos! Enjoy!

Top 10 reasons why Bob Gold was a great dean

1. He had the vision to create a School of Public Health and inspired others with that vision.
   
2. He was a big tent guy. He saw the Departments of Kinesiology and Family Science as unique assets to the School of Public Health, despite being non-traditional disciplines in a public health school. He also was instrumental in forging a more formal relationship with colleagues at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, which has resulted in the new collaborative School of Public Health.
3. He embraces and promotes diversity. The School of Public Health has the most diverse student body in the University of Maryland. In the 2011-2012 academic year, students of color made up 47% of the undergraduate student body, and 35% of the graduate student body.
   
4. He embraces technology. Bob has been a “go-to” guy for all things related to the use of social media and computer technologies in health education and health promotion. Read A chat with Robert Gold, PhD, DrPH: Exploring how to use mobile SMS messaging to reduce health disparities in the United States and don't miss Dean Gold's Must-Have Apps.
   
5. He makes a fashion statement (he wears a gold earring, never wears socks, and has 3 tattoos).
   
   
6. He loves and supports the fine arts. Although since he’s been so busy being a dean, he’s personally responsible for a 20% decrease in movie ticket sales because he has had to restrict himself to only six movies each weekend.
   
   
7. He connected us with the world of business (through a variety of partnerships with the Smith School including the University of Maryland Center of Excellence in Health Information Technology Research), although his seismic shift from driving a Mercedes Benz to a rather tired Toyota not long after becoming dean reduced shareholder dividends and precipitated the near collapse of the Euro.
   
8. He loves rock music. He increased ticket sales for the upcoming Led Zeppelin world tour when Robert Plant recognized his amazing talent at Guitar Hero and Rock Band and asked him to join the band.
   
9. His commitment to development. He single-handedly saved Apple from bankruptcy by being a compulsive early adopter of all things Apple.
   
10. His love of our School and all who work here … thank you Dean Gold!