May 2026 Directors’ Message
As we welcome the arrival of spring on campus, we are delighted to share exciting news about the ICON-Health Eminent Scholar Seminar Series, a new university-wide initiative designed to advance our mission of bridging nutrition and health through diverse disciplinary perspectives. Beginning in Fall 2026, this semi-annual series will bring leading scholars whose work reshapes how we understand health in complex, real-world systems.
For our inaugural year, we are thrilled to have secured two outstanding speakers. Bruce Y. Lee, PhD, Professor of Health Policy and Management and Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Technology and Communication in Health (CATCH) at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, will join us to share his pioneering work at the intersection of health policy, systems modeling, and advanced technology. His scholarship has been instrumental in demonstrating how computational tools and communication technologies can inform more effective health decisions and policies—precisely the kind of innovative thinking that aligns with ICON-Health’s vision. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes Magazine.
We are equally honored to host Herman Pontzer, PhD, Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology and Global Health at Duke University and the Duke Global Health Institute. Dr. Pontzer’s research on human energetics and evolution has transformed our understanding of metabolism, physical activity, and long-term health, with implications that span anthropology, nutrition, and global health practice. His ability to integrate evolutionary theory with contemporary health challenges will offer our campus community a unique and thought-provoking lens on the determinants of health across the life course. He also authors books on the subject for the general public, which have become New York Times Best Sellers!
These visits will feature a university-wide research seminar as well as a public-facing evening lecture that will be accessible to students, faculty, staff, local clinicians, public health professionals, and policymakers across Florida. Specific dates for the Fall 2026 seminars are being finalized and will be announced in the coming weeks; we encourage you to watch for these announcements and mark your calendars.
Ahead of these events, we are thrilled to launch a new book club featuring the groundbreaking work of Drs. Pontzer and Lee. This isn't just a reading group—it’s a collaborative space where we connect research to real-world health solutions. We’ll dive deep into their insights on nutrition, using their findings as a springboard for lively brainstorming sessions on how we can collectively move the needle on public health. Whether you’re looking to challenge your current perspectives or simply connect with fellow thinkers over some "food for thought," we would love to have your voice in the room. Keep an eye out for the formal announcement!
This series would not be possible without the commitment of our campus partners. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the College of Communication & Information (CCI) and the Department of Anthropology, whose partnership and co-sponsorship reflect the truly interdisciplinary spirit of ICON-Health. We are also deeply grateful to the ICON-Health Eminent Scholar Seminar Series Search Committee for their thoughtful work in identifying, recruiting, and engaging such exceptional scholars on behalf of Florida State University.
We look forward to welcoming you to these inaugural seminars in the fall and to continuing to build ICON-Health as a hub for collaborative, impactful science that connects nutrition and health across disciplines, communities, and systems.
Regan Bailey & Patrick Stover
Dr. Regan Bailey
Director, Institute for Connecting Nutrition and Health (ICON-Health)
Professor, Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine
Dr. Patrick Stover
Director, Institute for Connecting Nutrition and Health (ICON-Health)
Professor, Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine
