Remembering Dr. Martin Iguchi

June 8, 2021

Dear NHS Community, 

I write to share the sad news that Dr. Martin Iguchi, former dean of the School of Nursing & Health Studies (NHS), passed away over the weekend after a long illness.  

He was known for his work to decrease the consequences of drug addiction, contributions to drug treatment and policy, and strong advocacy for vulnerable populations. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in experimental psychology from Boston University and was a fellow of the American Psychological Association, which recognized his lifetime of work in 2019 with a Presidential Citation. 

In addition to serving as dean of NHS, his previous leadership roles included director of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center and chair of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health.  He served as senior advisor for the Pardee RAND Graduate School from 2018 until his death.

During his service as NHS dean, Martin led a strategic planning process, one that resulted in the drafting of the school’s Mission, Vision, and Values Statement. Additionally, the public health minor launched and has grown considerably since, now available to undergraduate students across the campus. Further, Martin arrived at the school a few months after our online graduate program in nursing began – the university’s first online degree-granting program. In his time as dean, hundreds of students enrolled in this distance-based program. Finally, during his tenure, nursing programs received maximum reaccreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

Martin’s family has asked that individuals who are interested in making a contribution in his memory direct their support to the RAND Center to Advance Racial Equity Policy. You can do so using this link.  If you would like to share your remembrances of Martin or condolences with his family, please send them to Vanessa Taylor who will help coordinate. 

I first met Martin in Santa Monica in 1998 and remember him for his kind and welcoming presence, for the zeal with which he approached his research, and as an exceptionally dedicated mentor to junior colleagues. I offer my sympathy to the many of you in NHS who were among his friends and colleagues and feel his loss.  

Please keep his family close in mind and prayer.

Sincerely,

Carole Roan Gresenz, PhD
Interim Dean
School of Nursing & Health Studies