Dr. Longacre Appointed Chair of Public Health, Assistant Dean of Research
Dr. Margaret Longacre, assistant professor of Public Health, has been appointed chair of the Department of Public Health and assistant dean of research in the College of Health Sciences at Arcadia University. Dr. Longare will succeed current Chair of the Department of Public Health Dr. Katie Isselman DiSantis when she steps down on July 3.
“We will miss Dr. Disantis’ leadership and expertise,” said Dean of the College of Health Sciences Dr. Rebecca Craik. “She has played a critical role in planning for the University’s ‘return to campus’ using Public Health COVID guidelines to ensure optimal safe function, along with the many leadership roles held on campus and in the College. Her service to the campus has been extensive.”
Dr. Margaret Longacre
Dr. Longacre
Dr. Margaret Longacre joined the Department of Public Health as an assistant professor in 2016. Prior to joining Arcadia, she was involved in research positions at the Cancer Support Community National Headquarters and Fox Chase Cancer Center.
At Arcadia, Dr. Longacre has continued to receive external grant funding to support her research on reducing the burden on and improving health outcomes among family caregivers. She has an extensive list of refereed publications, national presentations, grant funding, and external connections with the public health community. Most recently, she was one of three academic advisers for the National Alliance for Caregiving’s report on Sandwich Generation Caregiving.
Beyond teaching master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science in Global Public Health (BSPH) students, Dr. Longacre has participated in the development of the Department’s new strategic plan. In addition to her departmental work, she also developed and leads the interdisciplinary Growing Research and Networking Together (GRANT) group within the College of Health Sciences, where she shares her passion for research, publication, and funding and broader collaboration and scholarship success among junior faculty. She continues in her role as a member of the Faculty Senate.
Dr. Longacre earned a doctorate in Health Policy at the University of the Sciences, a master’s in Health Education at Arcadia University, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Wake Forest University.
Dr. DiSantis
Dr. DiSantis
Dr. Katie Isselman DiSantis joined Arcadia in 2012 from the African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. A primary theme of her numerous publications, presentations, and grant funding has been to improve nutrition for children and adults in African American communities.
Dr. DiSantis was appointed chair in 2017 and received tenure as associate professor in 2018. Since 2017, she has developed the BSPH, secured reaccreditation from the Council of Public Health Education through 2025, and attracted and retained a remarkable faculty and staff team. She taught both undergraduate and graduate students in areas of research methods, nutrition, and health equity, and was awarded the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award in 2019.
Dr. DiSantis has co-led interprofessional collaborative efforts in the College of Health Sciences, which enable students from different medical fields in the college to work together and learn how their areas of expertise connect. Her service to the University has extended beyond the College, serving on the Faculty Senate, the UKnighted Aspirational Steering Committee, and other committees and task forces.
Dr. DiSantis holds a doctorate in Public Health and a master’s in Community Health Education from Temple University, and a bachelor’s degree in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State University. She will join the College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University as an associate professor of Public Health.
