ST. LOUIS – A California professor with extensive experience working with hospitals, health systems and public health agencies will become dean of the Saint Louis University School of Public Health this summer.

Connie Evashwick, Sc.D, currently is professor of health care administration at California State University, Long Beach. She joins SLU on July 1.

“Connie has impeccable credentials and a national academic reputation in the area of long-term care,” said Joe Weixlmann, Ph.D., provost of Saint Louis University. “Her distinguished professional career and strong leadership credentials make her a superb choice to lead our School of Public Health.”

Dr. Evashwick earned doctorate and master’s degrees from Harvard School of Public Health, and has master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Stanford University. Her area of expertise is the continuum of care and long-term care health delivery systems.

Dr. Evashwick had been Endowed Chair and Director of the Center for Health Care Innovation at California State University, Long Beach. She has combined her academic career with consulting and direct operations management.

Dr. Evashwick has served as vice president of long-term care for two major health care systems and is a national consultant to health systems, hospitals and long-term care organizations.

“Saint Louis University School of Public Health has a wonderful faculty at the forefront of research in their fields,” Evashwick said. “I’d like to help this talented group rise to the next level of national and international prominence. This is a great honor, and a great opportunity.”

She said one immediate goal is to increase enrollment at the school, including both traditional students and working professionals. She said one way to do this was to improve awareness about the quality of the research and the extent of clinical services by faculty members.

Dr. Evashwick is the author or editor of 12 books and more than 100 other publications. She has been active in professional societies in the health administration and aging fields, including being a Regent and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and chair of the Gerontological Health Section of the American Public Health Association.

Homer Schmitz, Ph.D., a professor of health administration in the School of Public Health and member of the Saint Louis University faculty for 29 years, has served as interim dean. He will return to his faculty position when Evashwick joins the University this summer.