Farrell Webb

Farrell J. Webb, currently associate dean in the College of Health and Human Services at Cal State L.A., has been appointed dean of the College of Health and Human Development at California State University, Northridge.

Webb brings more than 21 years of public and academic administrative experience to the position, including the past two years as an associate dean at Cal State L.A. He begins his appointment at CSUN on July 1.

“Dr. Webb’s areas of academic interest dovetail nicely with those within the College of Health and Human Development,” said Yi Li, CSUN’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, in announcing Webb’s appointment. “He focuses on health disparities, race and ethnic relations, poverty, inequality and HIV/AIDS and their overall effects on well-being. Dr. Webb will be a wonderful addition to the CSUN community.”

Webb said he is excited to be joining the CSUN community, and in particular the College of Health and Human Development.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be able to join the faculty at CSUN,” he said. “It is very exciting for me because the university has a great reputation and fantastic people. I am looking forward to working with the people in the College of Health and Human Development and to continue our journey of improving student success and closing the achievement gap. I am proud to be part of the college’s successful profile on campus, in the state and the nation.”

Webb said he feels lucky to have been appointed dean.

“I get to inherit a lot of good stuff and work collaboratively with some amazing faculty,” he said. “I am looking forward to it.”

Prior to Cal State L.A., Webb spent more than 19 years at Kansas State University, where he was an associate professor of family studies and human services, and director of the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program. He also spent three years in the Office of the Provost as Kansas State University’s ombudsman.

Webb holds bachelor’s degrees in sociology/political science and communication arts, with an emphasis in film and television production, from Loyola Marymount University. He has master’s degrees in sociology from Cal State Long Beach and New York University. He earned his Ph.D. in family social sciences from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Webb has been a post-doctoral scholar and visiting associate professor at Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Human Development and Family Research in Diverse Contexts, where he studies ethnography, geostatistics and epidemiology. He also has received academic certificates from the University of Texas at Austin in hierarchical linear modeling and advanced structural equation modeling.

Webb has taught at NYU, City University of New York, Bloomfield College and the University of Minnesota. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles in professional journals and, numerous book chapters, as well as made more than 50 conference and other academic presentations. He has or has held membership in the American Psychological Association, American Sociological Association, National Council on Family Relations, National Association of Ethnic Studies and the Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues.

CSUN’s College of Health and Human Development has more than 7,900 undergraduate and graduate students in 11 undergraduate degree, 10 graduate degree and three credential programs. Its mission is to prepare competent and caring professionals with a commitment to enhance and promote the health and well-being of the diverse communities CSUN serves.

The college includes the Departments of Child and Adolescent Development, Communication Disorders and Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Health, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Recreation and Tourism Management. It serves as home to several centers and institutes, including the Aquatic Center at Castaic Lake; Center of Achievement through Adapted Physical Activity; Child and Family Studies Center; Consumer Resource Center; Center for Recreation and Tourism; Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics; the Physical Therapy Center for Advanced Clinical Practice; and the Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing.

College of Health and Human Development, Farrell Webb