Published on October 26, 2026 by Alison Ingle  
college of health sciences

Samford University’s School of Public Health is evolving its leadership structure and recognizing faculty achievements as it positions itself for continued growth. New faculty hires, leadership appointments and promotions for the 2026–27 academic year reflect the school’s ongoing development across its academic programs.

These changes support the school’s academic priorities in healthcare administration, nutrition and dietetics, public health and social work.

New Leadership Appointments 

The Department of Public Health named Ahinee Amamoo chair following her service as interim chair since November 2023. Kevin Keane, PhD, MBA, joins the faculty as assistant professor of public health and director of the Master of Public Health program, while Rachel Stokes, DrPH ’21, serves as assistant professor and director of the integrative experience.  

In the Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics, Kim Sanders-Davey, PhD, MBA ’09, was named associate professor and undergraduate program director for healthcare administration. Jasmine Agnew, who joined the school in spring 2026, serves as assistant professor and graduate program director of Health Informatics and Analytics. 

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics also announced several leadership appointments. Ashley Licata ’13 will serve as interim chair of the department. Amy Cameron was named director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics, Megan Kaal ’07 was named director of experiential learning and Emily Bourne was named director of the Graduate Program in Dietetics. 

Faculty Promotions and Recognition 

Several faculty members have received promotions and other distinctions: 

  • Lyndsay Clark ’08 was promoted to assistant professor in the Department of Social Work. 
  • Rachel Hagues was promoted to professor in the Department of Social Work. 
  • Dennis McCay was promoted to associate professor in the Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics. 
  • Ashley Licata ’13, was promoted to associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. 
  • Melissa Lumpkin, former dean of the School of Public Health, was named professor emerita. 

The school congratulates these faculty members on their accomplishments and new responsibilities and recognizes their contributions to teaching, scholarship and service. 

Positioning for Future Growth 

As the School of Public Health continues to evolve, these leadership transitions and faculty achievements reflect its commitment to academic excellence, student success and community impact. 

“Our strategic faculty hiring process and supportive environment has helped recruit and retain top-notch faculty in the School of Public Health, said Dean Suresh Mathews. “I am extremely happy that our students get to learn from the very best in the field.” 

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,522 students from 46 states, Puerto Rico and 12 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 35 Most Beautiful College Campuses, Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.