Statement From Dean Fallin Regarding Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

Message sent on behalf of Dean M. Daniele Fallin

Dear Rollins Community,

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. (SFAI) v. President and Fellows of Harvard and SFAI v. University of North Carolina. These rulings end the use of race as a consideration in college and university admissions. You can read a message from Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves here. As President Fenves expressed, we are deeply concerned about the impact this ruling will have at Emory and elsewhere. 

In our collective work on a strategic plan for the next 5 years, we have reaffirmed our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all that we do: in our work in public health and in our culture as a school. We have clearly stated our values, including our commitment to:

• Social justice and antiracism in our practices and policies
• An inclusive and equitable workplace and learning environment
• Diverse ideas and healthy debate foundational to a learning culture

We are proud of the diversity of our faculty, staff, and student body. Our unique and vibrant culture, as well as the quality of our work in public health is a direct product of our diverse community. We simply wouldn’t be Rollins without each and every one of you.

I want to reaffirm our values in light of this ruling, and reassure you that we will continue to focus, within the boundaries of the law, on ensuring that our student population, program goals, and public health research reflect the diversity of our world today and the diversity required to be a public health leader in our local and global communities. Such diversity is critical to continued excellence and impact in public health.

Sincerely,

Daniele Fallin, PhD
James W. Curran Dean of Public Health
Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University