Rifat Atun appointed Dean at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health

Professor Rifat Atun has been appointed as the Dean for Education and Innovation at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. This appointment marks the first time a Turkish academic has held a dean position in the 390-year history of Harvard University.

In his new role, Atun is responsible for the strategic and operational management of postgraduate degree programs, certificate courses, executive education, and professional development programs. His mandate includes reviewing educational curricula, developing multi-year strategies, and integrating new technologies such as AI-supported learning models and micro-credentialing into the school’s offerings. He will also continue to lead the Advanced Learning Academy.

Born in Famagusta, Atun has highlighted the significance of his achievement for the Turkish Cypriot community. His background includes navigating displacement during the intercommunal conflicts in Cyprus in the 1960s.