The University of California Global Health Institute is excited to announce an upcoming leadership transition at the Center for Gender and Health Justice (CGHJ), marking an important chapter in the Center’s continued mission to advance research, education and community engagement globally and locally to reduce gender and health inequities.

After years of visionary leadership, CGHJ Co-Directors, Ushma Upadhyay, PhD, MPH and Dallas Swendeman, PhD, MPH, will step down from their roles and transition to Associate Director roles with the Center. Their leadership has been instrumental in shaping the Center’s strategic vision, expanding its research agenda, and building collaborative partnerships. Under their leadership, the Center launched its second signature research project, the California Home Abortion by Telehealth (CHAT) Study, created a database for gender and women’s empowerment measures, launched a special issue in Culture, Health & Sexuality, “Transformative Approaches to Gender Justice in Sexual and Reproductive Health,” expanded education and training opportunities and online courses for University of California students, and held multiple conference retreats to raise and discuss cutting edge issues in gender and health justice and seed new programmatic and research collaborations. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and look forward to their continued contributions in their new roles.

As part of this transition, we are thrilled to announce that the Center’s current Associate Directors, Sean Arayasirikul, PhD and Jennifer Wagman, PhD, MHS, will assume the roles of Co-Directors, effective January 2025. Drs. Arayasirikul and Wagman bring a wealth of experience, energy, and a deep commitment to the Center’s mission and vision. They have been integral to the Center’s recent successes including, establishment of the Center’s first signature research project focused on preventing violence on University of California campuses (UC Speaks Up) and expanding international partnerships within the Global College Campus Violence Prevention Network. They are champions for training, education and mentorship, creating a brand new course focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights for UCLA students, and designing an NIH-funded training program to advance the next generation of gender and health justice public health practitioners and scholars. They are well-prepared to guide the Center into its next phase of development, growth, and innovation.

This leadership transition reflects the Center’s commitment to collaborative governance and its focus on building a sustainable leadership pipeline. Drs. Arayasirikul and Wagman’s new appointments ensure continuity while bringing fresh perspectives and initiatives to the Center’s strategic priorities. The incoming Co-Directors are eager to expand the Center for Gender and Health Justice’s research and training initiatives, strengthen community partnerships and collaborations, and enhance the Center’s capacity to address today’s most pressing challenges in gender and health justice while building on the strong foundation already in place. Congratulations to Drs. Arayasirikul and Wagman on this important milestone!