Haley Sinn has been named permanent director of the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Office, which works to promote and protect health and safety across the University of Iowa campus.

Sinn, Ph.D., has held the position on an interim basis since former Director Carol McGhan retired in February.

“For nearly two decades, Haley has been an indispensable member of an office that oversees a range of activities, labs, and workplaces where potentially hazardous materials are used for research or other purposes,” Senior Assistant Vice President for Research Jennifer Lassner said. “Keeping faculty, staff, and students safe is a top priority for the university, and Haley’s skills, experience, and extensive qualifications give me every confidence that she’s the person to lead that effort.”

From 2010-2018, Sinn was the Biological Safety Officer, managing biosafety activities, overseeing compliance with Select Agent and Toxin Regulations, advising the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and co-leading the Safety Advisor Team on audits of research laboratories for chemical, biological, radiological, and occupational safety, among other duties.

She has a doctorate from the UI Department of Biological Sciences, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Minnesota-Morris. She’s also a Certified Biosafety Professional.

She served as an editorial assistant and secretary for The Journal of Lipid Research at the UI from 1995-1997, and has taught a number of biology courses at Kirkwood Community College.

She has published as lead or co-author on a number of peer-reviewed papers and academic book chapters, been the recipient of several fellowships and awards (including an Exceptional Performance Award in 2006), and is a member of the American Biological Safety Association, the Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association, and the Midwest Area Biosafety Network.

The Environmental Health & Safety Office offers a variety of services in the areas of biological, chemical, occupational and radiation safety, and select environmental programs, including exposure monitoring, worksite hazard and safety evaluations, safety training, and disposal of hazardous chemical, radioactive and infectious waste. EHS also offers consultative services to assists grant recipients with meeting safety and compliance requirements tied to funding from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army, Department of Defense and other federal agencies.