Micah Griffin has officially been named senior director of Penn State’s University Health Services (UHS), the university announced Monday. His tenure officially began on January 4.

Griffin comes to Penn State from the City University of New York’s Kingsborough Community College, where he served as director of health programs. He has also previously served as director of Student Health and Counseling Services at Alabama A&M.

With more than a decade of leadership experience in college health enterprises, Griffin has worked on a variety of grant projects and campus health initiatives that improved student health and campus health service utilization.

Griffin currently serves on the board of the American College Health Association (ACHA), as well as the association’s coronavirus task force.

He received a master’s degree in health care administration and a doctorate in health services – community health from Walden University, a master’s degree in exercise science from Life University, and a bachelor’s degree in science biology from Livingston College.

While college health professionals are being tasked with defining the role of health and well-being on college campuses now more than ever, Griffin said he’s confident that Penn State can be positioned as a national leader in college health.

“I am looking forward to joining UHS and the Penn State community at a very important time where college health is being challenged on many fronts,” said Griffin. “UHS has a phenomenal team, and I am excited for the opportunity to lead this organization as Student Affairs collectively navigates the challenges ahead.”

The majority of Griffin’s experience has been focused around improving the health outcomes for marginalized people and underrepresented students. This includes developing the Student Health Alliance, establishing the Historically Black Colleges and Universities coalition with the ACHA, and founding Heal Our People Inc., a nonprofit organization.

Damon Sims, the vice president for Student Affairs, believes Griffin is seen as a rising star in college student health circles.

“Public health is clearly more important than ever, and Micah gives us the opportunity to build upon the strong foundation that already exists in one of the best ambulatory student health centers in all of higher education,” Sims said. “I am excited for what lies ahead for student health at Penn State.”

Griffin succeeds Dr. Robin Oliver-Veronesi, who served as senior director of UHS since 2015. Oliver-Veronesi stepped down to continue her passion for working in women’s health care by resuming her previous role as director of women’s health at UHS.

Oliver-Veronesi’s experience and leadership have been invaluable throughout the past five and a half years. Her work with the coronavirus was especially outstanding this most recent year.

“Robin Oliver-Veronesi has been a consistent advocate for the physical well-being of our students and the services and staff that provide for that well-being,” Sims said. “We are deeply grateful for all she has done, and we are pleased that she will remain an important part of us through her continued leadership of our women’s health services.”