April 26, 2004

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Last weekend, the university marked the close of a 12-year effort to
expand, renovate and modernize the facilities of the Bloomberg School of
Public Heath. That effort has nearly doubled the size of the school and
provided marvelous research and study space, common areas and other
amenities for students, faculty and staff.

The bottom line: The world's leading public health school now has the
physical infrastructure it needs to make even greater contributions to the
health and well-being of populations at home and around the world.

The man who shepherded the school through this massive undertaking is, of
course, Alfred Sommer, who has been dean of the Bloomberg School since 1990.

Dean Sommer has informed me -- and informed the school community today --
that he plans to step down as dean in September 2005 and return to the
faculty to pursue his very important scholarly interests.

Al's contributions to the school, to Johns Hopkins and to the world go far
beyond the school's expansion program, of course. As a researcher, his
landmark work on Vitamin A has been credited with saving the lives of
millions of children. His pioneering research was recognized with the
Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research.

As dean, he has guided research and educational initiatives that are making
literally a world of difference.

There will be ample time through the next academic year to recognize fully
Al's many contributions. But I want to say now that I am grateful for his
outstanding service to the school, to the university and to humanity.

Sincerely,

William R. Brody