Dean Melissa Perry named to Northern Virginia Magazine’s list of 50 most influential people

Northern Virginia Magazine named Melissa Perry, Dean of the College of Public Health, one of the area’s top 50 most influential people of 2024. The top 50 list recognizes those who are making a difference in Northern Virginia and giving back to their community. Dean Perry was honored alongside other influential community members including Governor Glenn Youngkin, George Mason President Gregory Washington, J. Stephen Jones, Representative Gerry Connolly, Senator Tim Kaine, Dwight and Martha Schar, and the Peterson Family foundation. Dean Perry was lauded for leading the College of Public Health and the next generation of health professionals as well as her distinguished scientific accomplishments.

 Dean Perry’s extensive published research has had a lasting impact on the fields of epidemiology and public health. In addition to her more than 170 published works and lectures at more than 25 universities, Dr. Perry’s scientific research has now been cited over 7,000 times, ranking her in the 99^thpercentile of all scientists on ResearchGate, which has over 25 million members.

 George Mason’s College of Public Health is the first college of public health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive and interprofessional public health research, education, and practice. The College is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as number 33 among state schools of public health and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program is ranked number 1 among public institutions. More than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students are enrolled in its nationally recognized programs.