Auburn department chair to lead university health administration organization

6/11/2024

Cathleen Erwin, chair of the Department of Political Science and professor of health services administration, was named chair of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), at the organization’s annual meeting in Tampa, Florida.

Erwin was named AUPHA chair-elect in 2023 and headed the planning committee for the 2024 annual meeting. She will serve one year as chair of the board of directors beginning July 1.

“I am humbled and honored to be elected to chair the AUPHA board, following in the footsteps of so many individuals whom I greatly admire and emulate, who have served the organization during its 75-year history. I am particularly excited to lead the board as the association develops a new strategic plan for 2025-2028,” said Erwin. “Both higher education and health care are facing incredible challenges, and we want to ensure that we are providing our member institutions and their students with relevant services and resources to help them meet those challenges.”

Reid Oetjen, 2023-24 AUPHA chair, hands over the gavel to Cathleen Erwin.

Erwin’s election is the first time an Auburn University faculty member has led the AUPHA. Auburn’s undergraduate program in health services administration is an institutional member of the association and was the first undergraduate program in the state of Alabama to be fully certified by AUPHA.

The AUPHA is a global network of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals and organizations dedicated to the improvement of health and health care delivery through excellence in health care management and policy education. AUPHA's membership includes the premier baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degree programs in health administration education in the United States, Canada and around the world. Its faculty and individual members represent more than 300 colleges and universities.

Tags: Faculty Political Science