A man in a suit shakes hand with a woman as another smiling woman looks on

Columbia Mailman Meets Dean Jonathan Mermin on His First Day

March 3, 2026

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Jonathan Mermin, the new dean of Columbia Mailman School, got off to an early start on his first day, walking through the doors of the Allan Rosenfield Building shortly before 8:30 am, on Monday, March 2. After settling into his office, he set out on a tour of the School’s administrative departments, meeting several dozen faculty, staff, and students—all of whom were excited to welcome the new dean.

A woman standing in a doorway shakes hand with a man in a suit as another man looks on
A man in a suit shakes hand with a woman as another smiling woman looks on
A woman points to a framed photo as a man in a suit and another woman look on
A man in a suit in the foreground. Background is a conference room full of people.
A smiling man looks at a canvas bag while others look on
A standing woman and man facing each other
A man in a suit stands in an office occupied by two women, one seated and the other standing
A man in a suit sits at the head of a conference table
A smiling man looks up

That same morning, a short welcome video was posted on the School’s social media channels. The video follows Dean Mermin as he takes the subway uptown from Columbia’s Morningside campus to Columbia Irving Medical Center Campus. Becoming dean represents a homecoming for the Bronx native, who previously held leadership positions at CDC in Atlanta and on the African continent. “It’s great to be back. People and ideas thrive in New York City,” he says in the video.

(Read more about Dean Mermin and his accomplishments here.)

At 11 am, Sami Jarrah, Vice Dean for Finance and Administration, and Michael Joseph, Vice Dean for Education, led the ninth dean in the School’s 104-year history on a tour of the 14th and 10th floors, where he met with staff from the Office of Education, Communications, Development and Alumni Relations, and Research Strategy and Innovation. Along the way, he peppered staff with questions about their job responsibilities and how long they’ve been at the School. The Student Affairs team surprised him with a bag stuffed with Columbia Mailman-branded items.

Dean Mermin also popped into Riverview Lounge, where students were busy preparing for midterms. He introduced himself to several of them and asked about their areas of study. Later in the afternoon, he sat down with members of his senior administrative team who brought him up to speed on priority projects and events. Next Tuesday, March 10, he will lead his first School Assembly, where he will introduce himself to a larger group of faculty and staff.

“My first day was a thrilling immersion into the world of Mailman. I was inspired by meeting so many interesting and dedicated members of our community. This School is filled with remarkable individuals, and I am very much looking forward to working with all of you in the months and years to come,” Dean Mermin said.

Introducing Dean Jonathan Mermin