Recognizing Dean Audrey Shillington’s Service to SJSU

Sent: May 13, 2026

From: Vincent J. Del Casino, Jr., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to share that Dean Audrey Shillington has decided to exercise her retreat rights and return to the faculty in the School of Social Work after nearly six years of service as Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. She has made significant contributions to the campus, and I have enjoyed working with her tremendously during her time in the role and as part of the Academic Affairs leadership team. While I am very pleased that Audrey will return to the faculty and continue contributing through teaching, scholarship, and service, I also want to acknowledge the many important ways she has shaped the College of Health and Human Sciences during her time as dean.

Dean Shillington joined San José State University in July 2020 as the founding dean of CHHS. Disruptions to clinical placements, post-pandemic enrollment volatility, and rapid shifts in pedagogy were among the many pressures that defined her early years in the role. Despite these challenges, she led the integration of multiple departments into a mission-driven college organized around health equity, interprofessional collaboration, and innovation. She established Health TechQuity as a defining framework and launched the Health TechQuity Conference as a signature initiative, bringing together campus participants and local, state, national, and international leaders in health and technology. 

Her leadership has advanced key priorities for both CHHS and SJSU, particularly in research productivity, student success, workforce development, and community engagement. For example, by 2024–25, that figure for research dollars had grown exponentially to nearly $34 million. Among the significant extramural awards achieved during her tenure are the HCAI Broaden and Build grant ($3.4 million), HCAI funding of $25 million to support public behavioral health social work training, and an additional $2.8 million for workforce development from the California Department of Social Services. Dean Shillington also strengthened CHHS's philanthropic foundation. Most notably, the college received a $4.6 million gift from the Rauen Family to support Nutrition and Food Science facilities and student and faculty research—an investment that will benefit the college for years to come.

In the academic arena, during her tenure CHHS launched and accredited the Doctor of Audiology (AuD), securing dual accreditation through 2034; developed and accredited the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD); and expanded the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) through a partnership with the Stanford School of Medicine. A newly approved Concurrent Enrollment Program will further expand partnerships between SJSU’s Valley Foundation School of Nursing and community colleges to increase educational access in rural regions of the state. She also advanced Interprofessional Education (IPE) and invested in simulation technology to support teaching and learning in the college. These efforts have strengthened cross-departmental collaboration and enhanced student preparation for team-based professional practice.

I am grateful for Audrey’s leadership and her contributions to CHHS and the university, many of which are not even listed here. We are fortunate that she will continue to contribute to SJSU as a faculty member. Please join me in thanking Dean Shillington for her contributions to San José State University and in wishing her well as she returns to the faculty.

Sincerely,

Vin