William Dietz officially became the inaugural Sumner M. Redstone chair in the Milken Institute School of Public Health last Tuesday, according to a University release.

Dietz, who came to GW in 2014, served as the director of the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness.

Dietz is an expert in childhood obesity, one of the areas researchers at the Redstone Center have been studying, according to the release.

University President Steven Knapp said in the release that Dietz brings “invaluable expertise” to his position.

“He leads a multidisciplinary effort to find and evaluate innovative ways of addressing the epidemic of obesity through improved nutrition, physical activity and relevant changes in public policy,” Knapp said.

The center and endowed chair position named after Redstone are part of the University’s largest-ever gift in 2014, from Redstone and billionaire philanthropist Michael Milken.