Lisa A. Tedesco, who has served as vice president and secretary of the University since 1998, will step down from that position in February 2005 in order to resume her research and teaching.
A health psychologist and professor of dentistry, Tedesco has accepted a year-long position as a visiting fellow at the Center for Community Health Partnerships at the Columbia University Medical Center and visiting professor at the Columbia School of Dentistry and Oral Surgery.
Tedesco is a national expert on diversity in the health professions, and her work as a health psychologist has focused on how people think about and act to prevent illness and promote well-being. She will continue this work during her year-long sabbatical.
After completing her visiting professorship at Columbia, she plans to return to her position in the Department of Periodontics/Prevention/Geriatrics in the U-M School of Dentistry.
“Universities and academic health centers across the country have exhibited a growing commitment to address health disparities and form true community partnerships,” Tedesco says. “Because of its location in New York City, Columbia has done some particularly interesting work in this area. This sabbatical presents a valuable opportunity for me to learn from those experiences and to bring some of that knowledge back to my academic work at the University of Michigan.”
In her role as vice president and secretary, Tedesco is the executive officer liaison to the Board of Regents, responsible for coordination and management of policy matters and communications pertaining to the board. President Mary Sue Coleman says she will work with the regents to establish a process within the next few weeks for selecting a successor.
“Lisa has certainly set the gold standard for the position of vice president and secretary of the University,” says Rebecca McGowan, chair of the Board of Regents. “The members of the board have relied on her sagacity, her understanding of this University and her incredible work ethic for seven very full years.”
Tedesco also served as interim provost in 2001. In her interim position she provided leadership for the University’s response to the Sept. 11 national tragedy, and worked with the deans of the 18 schools and colleges to advance important academic initiatives and budget developments.
“Lisa has served in a demanding position with grace, wisdom and style, and I am grateful for the important contributions she has made to policy discussions at the highest level,” Coleman says. “We will miss her insights and leadership, but understand her desire to spend more time on her research interests. She is a remarkable University citizen.”
