Dr. Peter Taback Named Chief Communications Officer

The Mailman School of Public Health welcomes Peter Taback, PhD, as chief communications officer, effective January 21, 2014. With a record of achievement at the intersection of public health and higher education, Dr. Taback has extensive experience in global health, HIV/AIDS communication, promotion and distillation of research, and community health advocacy.

“Dr. Taback comes to the Mailman School at a transformative moment,” says Dean Linda P. Fried. “I am certain his extensive experience will be pivotal in helping the School to raise its profile and the profile of public health worldwide.”

Prior to joining the Mailman School, Dr. Taback served as vice president of Communications and External Affairs at The New School. During a time of considerable change at the University, he crafted a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy, which led to more effective student recruitment over three years; a new University website with complementary digital and print collateral; a communications strategy for the transition to a new president; and media outreach surrounding the construction and opening of a new building. At The New School, Dr. Taback was a vital part of the leadership team, collaborating with academic departments and administrative areas to promote the University to prospective students, media, donors, and the community at large.

Dr. Taback brings to the Mailman School demonstrated interest in and passion for raising popular understanding of public health.  Previously, he served as vice president of Communications and Marketing at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and was director of Communications at amfAR. In that role, he represented amfAR’s TREAT Asia clinical network to global media at two consecutive International AIDS Conferences, securing considerable international coverage on the shortage of physicians trained to treat HIV throughout Asia. Out of the office, he is a five-time veteran of both AIDS/LifeCycle and Bike Zambia, two seven-day bike rides that raise resources and awareness for HIV prevention and care services in the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition to professional and personal interest in public health, Dr. Taback has prior experience in academic settings, both as a teacher and administrator. He holds a PhD in English from the CUNY Graduate Center and has taught English at City College and NYU. In addition to serving as a media relations specialist at NYU earlier in his career, he served as speechwriter for two CUNY chancellors while completing his dissertation.