Lynne Cossman, dean of the College for Health, Community and Policy, has been named provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the University of Massachusetts Lowell, effective Aug. 1.
“As founding dean, Lynne Cossman embraced and championed the vision of the College for Health, Community and Policy — to better prepare students for careers in modern healthcare settings and advance health, wellness and well-being in our Texas communities through transdisciplinary education and research,” said Heather Shipley, provost and senior executive vice president for academic affairs. “She brought thoughtful, steady leadership during a period of significant growth, establishing the college’s academic and research infrastructure, strengthening connections with community and institutional partners, and expanding opportunities for students across disciplines. Her work has positioned the college for continued momentum, and we are grateful for her contributions.”
Transition planning to help identify interim leadership for the college will begin immediately, Shipley said.
A medical sociologist and demographer, Cossman has led the college since joining UT San Antonio in 2020. Prior to that, she served as chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at West Virginia University. Her earlier career included faculty and administrative roles at Mississippi State University, the University of Central Arkansas, Miami University and Florida State University.
As founding dean of the College for Health, Community and Policy, Cossman spearheaded the launch of the new college, guiding academic planning and community engagement strategy. She oversaw a college-wide strategic planning process, created a Dean’s Advisory Board and established a position for Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Partnerships to underscore the college’s commitment to serving the San Antonio community. She also launched the Institute for Health, Community and Policy to support and align the college’s research centers and institutes.
Under her leadership, the college expanded its interdisciplinary programs and introduced a half dozen new degree programs, including the BS in Health, Aging and Society, the MS in Health, Community and Policy, and the new PhD in Community and Policy, which will launch this fall. Additionally, she worked with colleagues at the Health Science Center to help launch the collaborative Kate Marmion School of Public Health.
Cossman’s own research interests focus on community health, health disparities and the healthcare workforce. Her current research focuses largely on the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on subjective life expectancy, protective behaviors (distancing/masking) and health behaviors (sleep, exercise and diet). She has been funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, among others. She is the author of more than 85 peer-reviewed publications and has published in several sociology and interdisciplinary journals, including the American Journal of Public Health, Social Problems, Health and Place, Population Research and Policy Review, Sociological Inquiry, and The Journal of Rural Health.
“As I reflect on six remarkable years at UT San Antonio, I feel both profound gratitude and a bittersweet sense of transition,” Cossman said. “Building the College for Health, Community and Policy alongside dedicated faculty, staff, students, and community partners has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career, and I will always carry immense pride in what we accomplished together.”
The College for Health, Community and Policy is UT San Antonio’s largest college, serving more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students across eight areas: criminology and criminal justice, kinesiology, nutrition and dietetics, psychology, public administration, public health, social work, and sociology and demography.
