The Meharry Medical College School of Applied Computational Sciences (SACS) is proud to announce the formation of a Dean’s Advisory Council, a newly established leadership body that will strengthen academic excellence, expand research and industry partnerships, and enhance the student experience. The Council will serve as a central forum for advancing the School’s strategic goals, aligning with Meharry Medical College’s mission and the SACS 2026–2030 performance improvement plan.
Members of the Dean’s Council include:
- Chair, Biomedical Data Science Department – Aize Cao, Ph.D.
- Chair, Computer Science and Data Science Department – Sajid Hussain, Ph.D.
- Assistant Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs – JeanLuc Nshimiyimana
- Assistant Dean, Communications and Digital Marketing – Matt Anderson
- Associate Dean, Research and External R&D Partnerships – Todd Gary, Ph.D.
- Associate Dean, Academic Affairs – Tim Wallace, Ph.D.
- Associate Dean, Curriculum Evaluation and Effectiveness – Lei Qian, Ph.D.
- Executive Associate to Dean Fortune Mhlanga – Christian D. Neal
- Associate Dean of Business & Finance – Alessandra Anderson-Jones, MBA
Each of these leaders brings a strong record of scholarship, innovation, and service to their new role:
- Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, JeanLuc Nshimiyimana, will oversee student recruitment, admissions, and support services, with a focus on student success and community engagement.
- Assistant Dean of Communications and Digital Marketing, Matt Anderson, will lead the School’s brand strategy, digital presence, and outreach to internal and external audiences.
- Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tim Wallace, will advance curriculum development, faculty support, and student success initiatives.
- Associate Dean for Research and External R&D Partnerships, Todd Gary, will drive research growth, external funding, and collaborations with industry and government.
- Associate Dean for Curriculum Evaluation and Effectiveness, Lei Qian, will ensure continuous improvement and accreditation compliance in curriculum design and delivery.
- Department Chairs, Professors Sajid Hussain and Aize Cao, will provide leadership for their respective departments, strengthening programs in computer science, biomedical data science, and applied computational research.
“The Dean’s Advisory Council represents a pivotal step in strengthening SACS as a hub of innovation and leadership in computational sciences,” said Dean Fortune Mhlanga. “By bringing together expertise in academics, research, student affairs, and communications, we are building the collaborative leadership structure needed to achieve our ambitious goals.”
The Dean’s Advisory Council will guide SACS through its FY2026–FY2030 objectives, which include:
- Enhancing student learning and faculty teaching;
- Increasing workforce development in STEM, with an emphasis on underrepresented groups;
- Expanding research excellence and impact, including $5M annually in external research funding;
- Fostering interdisciplinary and industry partnerships;
- Building long-term financial stability for the School.
Through this leadership team, SACS is well-positioned to continue preparing students for impactful careers while driving forward Meharry’s research, innovation, and community mission.
