Viveka Vadyvaloo named director of Allen School for Global Health

After more than a decade and a half serving as an infectious disease researcher and faculty member in Washington State University's Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Viveka Vadyvaloo has stepped into the school's top leadership position.

She officially assumed the role of director on July 1, becoming the third person to lead the Allen School since its founding. Vadyvaloo succeeds Tom Kawula, who will remain with the school as senior director of global health, and founding director Guy Palmer.

"I am excited about the opportunity to help shape the future of the Allen School by supporting the people and programs that drive its mission," Vadyvaloo said. "Being part of an environment that fosters global health research and training is incredibly inspiring. I'm especially motivated by the chance to continue building a strong, inclusive community where faculty, staff, and trainees can thrive, and where our collective work can have meaningful impact."

Vadyvaloo joined the Allen School in 2009, and in 2010 became its first tenure-track faculty member. Since then, she has become a core part of the school's identity, contributing to its scientific direction and collaborative culture. Her research focuses on the transmission biology of Yersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of bubonic plague, specifically how it is spread through flea vectors. Her work contributes to the College of Veterinary Medicine's growing expertise in vector-borne diseases.

In addition to her research efforts, in 2022, Vadyvaloo assumed a broader leadership position as the school's associate director.

"Over the past few years in that role, I found great satisfaction in contributing to the operations and programs that make the Allen School a vibrant and impactful place," she said. "That experience helped me realize how meaningful it is to support faculty, staff, and trainees - not just through research, but through creating a strong, collaborative environment. Stepping into the director role feels like a natural progression and an opportunity to continue that service while helping guide the Allen School's future growth."

As director, one of Vadyvaloo's early priorities will be to strengthen the connection between the school's global health efforts and new undergraduate public health program into closer alignment.

"We have strong foundations in both areas, and faculty are already thinking about them as connected, but there's still work to do in making them operate more seamlessly," she said. "As a land-grant institution, it's important that we bridge international impact with local public service, and I see a lot of opportunity in building a more unified approach that benefits students, faculty, and the communities we serve locally and globally."

Vadyvaloo acknowledged it feels as if she is "stepping into some very big shoes."

"Dr. Kawula has brought so much experience and built a strong, well-organized foundation that makes it easier for me to step in and keep things moving forward," she said. "I feel lucky that he's done a lot of the heavy lifting, and I can hopefully build from there."

In addition to Kawula's example, Vadyvaloo said she has drawn guidance and perspective from longtime colleagues and leaders within the college, including Palmer and Regents Professor Doug Call. She also thanked College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dori Borjesson for supporting her development and elevating women into leadership positions.

"I believe no one gets anywhere alone, and I've been lucky to have some amazing mentors along the way," she said. "It's been a real privilege to have this kind of support as a faculty member and as an incoming leader." Vadyvaloo earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Stellenbosch University in South Africa in 2003. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, Los Angeles, and later at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana before joining WSU

Viveka Vadyvaloo named director of Allen School for Global Health

By Devin Rokyta, College of Veterinary Medicine

After more than a decade and a half serving as an infectious disease researcher and faculty member in Washington State University's Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Viveka Vadyvaloo has stepped into the school's top leadership position.

She officially assumed the role of director on July 1, becoming the third person to lead the Allen School since its founding. Vadyvaloo succeeds Tom Kawula, who will remain with the school as senior director of global health, and founding director Guy Palmer.

"I am excited about the opportunity to help shape the future of the Allen School by supporting the people and programs that drive its mission," Vadyvaloo said. "Being part of an environment that fosters global health research and training is incredibly inspiring. I'm especially motivated by the chance to continue building a strong, inclusive community where faculty, staff, and trainees can thrive, and where our collective work can have meaningful impact."

Vadyvaloo joined the Allen School in 2009, and in 2010 became its first tenure-track faculty member. Since then, she has become a core part of the school's identity, contributing to its scientific direction and collaborative culture. Her research focuses on the transmission biology of Yersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of bubonic plague, specifically how it is spread through flea vectors. Her work contributes to the College of Veterinary Medicine's growing expertise in vector-borne diseases.

In addition to her research efforts, in 2022, Vadyvaloo assumed a broader leadership position as the school's associate director.

"Over the past few years in that role, I found great satisfaction in contributing to the operations and programs that make the Allen School a vibrant and impactful place," she said. "That experience helped me realize how meaningful it is to support faculty, staff, and trainees - not just through research, but through creating a strong, collaborative environment. Stepping into the director role feels like a natural progression and an opportunity to continue that service while helping guide the Allen School's future growth."

As director, one of Vadyvaloo's early priorities will be to strengthen the connection between the school's global health efforts and new undergraduate public health program into closer alignment.

"We have strong foundations in both areas, and faculty are already thinking about them as connected, but there's still work to do in making them operate more seamlessly," she said. "As a land-grant institution, it's important that we bridge international impact with local public service, and I see a lot of opportunity in building a more unified approach that benefits students, faculty, and the communities we serve locally and globally."

Vadyvaloo acknowledged it feels as if she is "stepping into some very big shoes."

"Dr. Kawula has brought so much experience and built a strong, well-organized foundation that makes it easier for me to step in and keep things moving forward," she said. "I feel lucky that he's done a lot of the heavy lifting, and I can hopefully build from there."

In addition to Kawula's example, Vadyvaloo said she has drawn guidance and perspective from longtime colleagues and leaders within the college, including Palmer and Regents Professor Doug Call. She also thanked College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dori Borjesson for supporting her development and elevating women into leadership positions.

"I believe no one gets anywhere alone, and I've been lucky to have some amazing mentors along the way," she said. "It's been a real privilege to have this kind of support as a faculty member and as an incoming leader." Vadyvaloo earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Stellenbosch University in South Africa in 2003. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, Los Angeles, and later at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana before joining WSU