December 13, 2024 | Lee Pearson
The inaugural dean of public health at the University of South Carolina died in early December, ending a century-long life of service in the social sciences. Rolf Lynton, who was named dean of public health at USC in 1974, was instrumental in setting in motion many of the driving forces that continue to propel the Arnold School’s success today.
Lynton came to USC from UNC-Chapel Hill at the invitation of then-President Thomas Jones. By the time Lynton arrived on campus to start his dual role as dean of public health and chair of preventive medicine in the new USC School of Medicine, Jones had yielded the presidency of USC to William Patterson.
Undaunted by the change in administration, Lynton set to work creating a collaborative structure to support public health education by engaging faculty from allied disciplines across campus. He also successfully embarked on a comprehensive strategy for community engagement.
Lynton befriended state agency directors, legislators and other community stakeholders in support of the mission of the newly established public health enterprise. His external ties led to what became highly regarded “Thinktimes” that served as state-level forums for discussing solutions to the public health challenges of the day.
Under Lynton’s leadership, the early academic programs in public health focused on enrolling individuals already in the state’s public health workforce, enhancing their skills and allowing for advanced training in specialized areas. This workforce development approach helped to raise the profile of academic public health in the state.
Lynton’s efforts not only raised the profile of public health both on and off campus, they positioned the school for provisional accreditation in 1977. He left his role before that goal was achieved, but he set in place a solid stage for his successor and long-time public health dean, Winona Vernberg.
Although Lynton’s time at USC was relatively short, his decades-long career in the social sciences spanned four continents, with long stints working in Indonesia and India. Lynton ultimately returned to Chapel Hill with his wife of many years, Ronnie, a noted researcher, writer and teacher in her own right.
The passing of Lynton comes on the eve of the 50th anniversary of public health at USC in 2025. As the Arnold School prepares to mark that occasion with a year of observances, the formative work of Lynton and the long-term impact of his strategic vision will continue to be recognized.