Two Wilson School Alumni Assume New Leadership Roles

Nov 10 2016
By Sarah M. Binder
Source Woodrow Wilson School

Two MPA graduates of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, who also are administrators at the School, are transitioning to new phases of their careers.

Gilbert Collins MPA ’99, who has served as the director of graduate student life at the Wilson School since February 2014, will begin a new role at the School’s Center for Health and Wellbeing (CHW) on Nov. 21. As the new director of global health programs and associate director of CHW, Collins assumes a role previously held by Kristina Graff MPA ’05.

Graff joined the Center for Health & Wellbeing in 2007, managing programmatic and administrative operations for several of Princeton’s global health initiatives. On Monday, Nov. 7, she transitioned to executive director of Timmy Global Health. Based in Indianapolis, the organization is a global nonprofit working to expand health care access in hard-to-reach communities in Latin America and engaging with university students and medical professionals on health care outreach and advocacy.

“My nine years working at CHW have been nothing short of amazing. I feel a deep gratitude for the wealth of opportunities I was given to cultivate programs on domestic and international health, spanning the classroom, the research space and the field,” Graff said. “I am also immensely grateful for the relationships I developed with colleagues and with students, all of whom have taught me invaluable lessons about global health practice, research and education. I will take those lessons into my new job, and I will enjoy watching from afar as CHW’s programs continue to grow and prosper under Gilbert’s leadership.”

As director of graduate student life, Collins directed several academic and co-curricular programs at the Wilson School. He advised MPA, MPP and Ph.D. students on course selection and requirements for concentrations, certificates, policy workshops, qualifying examinations and internships. In addition, he served external students by planning and directing the Junior Summer Institute, an intensive seven-week program in economics, statistics and policy analysis for undergraduate students from underrepresented groups.

“I have had nothing but wonderful experiences working with graduate students and faculty during my nearly three years as director of graduate student life at the Woodrow Wilson School. I will especially miss Associate Dean Karen McGuinness and my colleagues in the Graduate Program Office, who do so much behind the scenes to make the school run well,” Collins said. “As I move to my new role at the Center for Health and Wellbeing, I am excited to continue supporting students and researchers who share my passion for improving lives and promoting sound policies.”