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Ciesla to promote CHHS research excellence, manage college resources for future challenges

June 25, 2013
James R. Ciesla

James R. Ciesla

James R. Ciesla has accepted the position of associate dean for Research and Resources in the NIU College of Health and Human Sciences.

He begins his new job Monday, July 1.

Ciesla will work with the dean to provide leadership in college regarding research and scholarship priorities and their funding, financial operations, graduate programs, personnel actions and technology.

Dean Derryl Block expects that Ciesla’s management of college resources will enable its academic programs to meet future challenges.

A faculty member for nearly 20 years in the Public Health and Health Education programs (PHHE), housed in the School of Nursing and Health Studies, Ciesla received a master’s degree in health administration from Tulane University in 1991 and a Ph.D. in health economics from the University of South Carolina in 1994.

During his time at NIU, he has taught health economics and health care finance. From 2002 to 2005, he served as PHHE program coordinator.

Ciesla’s research has focused on ways to measure and evaluate the outcomes of health services through the application of human capital economics, specializing in programs that provide services to people in disadvantaged groups.

Students are routinely included in his projects in the field, many of which have assessed the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment services, technology literacy and access programs and public health planning.

Named a Presidential Engagement Professor in 2012, he is an experienced principal investigator who has led numerous externally funded projects and has forged important, long-standing partnerships with organizations and individuals throughout NIU’s service region.