Swagata Banik, Ph.D., has been named the new dean of the Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions at St. Bonaventure University.

Banik, who serves as the Medical Mutual Endowed chair for Public Health and Population Health at Baldwin Wallace University in suburban Cleveland, was selected dean of the DePerro School after a national search; he begins work at SBU Jan. 21.

A faculty member and academic administrator at Baldwin Wallace since 2011, Banik also held prominent roles as dean of Graduate Education and Research, director of the Center for Health Disparities Research and Education, and chair of the Department of Public Health and Prevention Sciences.

“People here who had a chance to meet him were so impressed with Dr. Banik, not only for his wide range of expertise in the health professions, but for the passion he conveyed when discussing the initiatives that matter most to him,” said Dr. David Hilmey, SBU’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “His research on health disparities among marginalized communities couldn’t be better aligned with our Franciscan mission.”

Banik said he’s “deeply grateful for the opportunity to join St. Bonaventure” as dean of the DePerro School.

“The future of health and wellness lies in expanding access to care, eliminating disparities, and fostering culturally responsive institutions and providers who genuinely value and compassionately serve their communities,” he said.

The university’s mission, values and opportunities to expand health initiatives among rural communities encouraged Banik to seek the position.

“Inspired by Bonaventure’s mission of compassionate service, I am committed to creating a culture where service and compassion are at the heart of health care education, empowering our students to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those they serve,” he said.

Banik’s research is specifically focused on addressing stigma and discrimination in health care. His work has centered on expanding health initiatives, building impactful community partnerships, and advancing equitable health solutions globally.

As principal investigator and co-investigator on numerous federally funded studies, Banik has led critical initiatives examining the social and structural determinants of health across diverse cultural contexts.

“I see a tremendous opportunity at Bonaventure to build on the university’s strengths and mission of service by cultivating compassionate and skilled health care professionals, expanding community-based research initiatives, and strengthening community partnerships,” Banik said.

His short-term goals include enhancing faculty and staff development, fostering meaningful collaborations, and supporting students in their academic and service journeys.

“Long term, I envision the DePerro School as a leader in health care education and community-centered innovation, grounded in Bonaventure’s values,” he said.

An active scholar, Banik has published extensively, serves on editorial boards for leading journals, and holds leadership roles in various civic and professional organizations.

Located in iconic Francis Hall, the School of Health Professions offers four undergraduate programs (Health Science, Public Health, RN to B.S. in Nursing, and a Dual Degree Nursing Program) and four graduate programs (Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice).

Just 7 years old, the DePerro School has 233 undergraduate and 108 graduate students, representing more than 12% of the student population at the university.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. News and World Report (2024).