Health Studies Faculty & Staff

Department Leadership & Main Office

Caroline Kuo Professor and Department Chair of Health Studies CAS | Health Studies

Dr. Caroline Kuo, is Department Chair and Professor in the Department of Health Studies at American University and the Director of the Youth and Family Resilience and Well-Being Lab. She also holds an

  ckuo@american.edu

  (202) 885-7358

Melissa Hawkins Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Health Studies CAS | Health Studies

Melissa Hawkins is an Associate Professor and the Associate Chair in the Department of Health Studies at American University. Dr. Hawkins is an epidemiologist with experience in the application of pub

  mhawkins@american.edu

  (202) 885-6252

Celeste Davis Professorial Lecturer and Director of Public Health Scholars CAS | Health Studies

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” — Albert Einstein What I do is a mix of public health education, professional development, and

  cdavis@american.edu

  (202) 885-1568

Alison Chrisler Professorial Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Programs CAS | Health Studies

Alison Chrisler is the Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Health Studies. Dr. Chrisler is a Certified Child Life Specialist at Children's National Hospital. She has over a decade

  chrisler@american.edu

Faculty & Staff Sections

Full-Time Faculty

Lynne Arneson CAS | Biology

Following an education in the Midwest culminating in a PhD in Cell Biology at the University of Chicago, Professor Arneson began teaching students in the Department of Biology at American University i

  larneso@american.edu

  (202) 885-2186

Latoya Callender Professorial Lecturer CAS | Health Studies

Latoya Callender is a Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Health Studies. She earned her PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health from Walden University and a Master of Sci

  latoyac@american.edu

Danielle Edwards Professorial Lecturer CAS | Health Studies

Danielle Edwards is a Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Health Studies at American University. Dr. Edwards holds a Doctorate degree in Health Policy & Management with a concentration in Bioet

  dmedwards@american.edu

Dara Ford Professorial Lecturer CAS | Online Partner Programs (OLP)

Dara Ford is the Program Director, Master of Science in Nutrition Education, and a Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Health Studies. Dara became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist following

  dford@american.edu

  (202) 885-2713

Jody Gan Professorial Lecturer CAS | Health Studies

With more than three decades of experience planning, implementing, and evaluating health programs, Jody enjoys sharing her experiences and passion for health and wellness while teaching public health

  gan@american.edu

  (202) 885-6872

Katie Holton Professor CAS | Health Studies

Dr. Kathleen Holton is a nutritional neuroscientist, co-appointed in the Departments of Health Studies and Neuroscience, whose research examines the negative effects of dietary excitotoxins on neurolo

  holton@american.edu

  (202) 885-3797

Demonica Jones Professorial Lecturer CAS | Health Studies

Demonica Jones, DrPH, MPH, MSW is a Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Health Studies. She earned her BS in Community Health and Spanish from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, an MPH

  demonicj@american.edu

  (202) 885-6179

Gabriella Meltzer Joint Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science & Heath Studies CAS | Environmental Science

Dr. Gabriella Meltzer is an assistant professor with joint appointments in the Departments of Environmental Science and Health Studies at American University. An environmental epidemiologist by traini

  gmeltzer@american.edu

Liana Petruzzi Assistant Professor CAS | Health Studies

Dr. Liana Petruzzi is a dually-appointed, assistant professor in Health and Education Equity in the School of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a health equity researcher and lice

  lpetruzzi@american.edu

Cynthia Potter Senior Professorial Lecturer CAS | Health Studies

Cynthia Potter is a Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Health Studies at American University in Washington, DC, where she has taught for seven years. Her vision for her students is that they b

  ronzio@american.edu

  (202) 885-6283

Anastasia Snelling Professor CAS | Health Studies

Dr. Anastasia Snelling is a professor in the Department of Health Studies at American University. She has been a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a registered dietitian for over thi

  stacey@american.edu

  (202) 885-6278

Research and Program Staff

Christina Lunsford Manager, Online Partnership Programs CAS | Online Partner Programs (OLP)

Christy first joined AU in 2008 as a graduate student in the MS Health Promotion Management program. While in school, she also worked as a graduate assistant, and interned with both AARP and the on ca

  lunsford@american.edu

  (202) 885-3795

Affiliate Faculty

Sarah Irvine Belson Professor SOE | General Academics & Research

Dr. Sarah Irvine Belson holds a PhD from Arizona State University in Curriculum and Instruction with a cognate in Special Education. Her research explores educational opportunity for children with dis

  sirvine@american.edu

  (202) 885-3714

Laura Juliano Professor CAS | Psychology

Laura M. Juliano earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the State University of New York at Binghamton and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her

  juliano@american.edu

  (202) 885-1715

Taryn Morrissey Professor, DPAP Chair, and Associate Dean of Research SPA | Public Administration

Dr. Morrissey is Associate Dean of Research at the School of Public Affairs and Chair of the Department of Public Administration and Policy. Her work centers on examining and improving public polic

  morrisse@american.edu

  (202) 885-6323

Nina Yamanis Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Education, SIS SIS | Environment, Development & Health

Dr. Nina Yamanis studies how social and structural determinants are linked to health disparities globally and locally, and designs community-based interventions to reduce these disparities. She has wo

  yamanis@american.edu

  (202) 885-6562

HLTH Adjunct Faculty

Trina Ulrich Adjunct Professorial Lecturer CAS | Health Studies

Trina C. Ulrich, MD, is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Health Studies at American University. Trina studied Sports Medicine during her undergraduate years at the University of Virginia

  ulrich@american.edu

  (202) 885-1434

Edrin Williams Adjunct Professorial Lecturer CAS | Health Studies

Dr. Edrin R. Williams is an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Health Studies at American University. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and a curre

  edrinwill@american.edu

Additional HLTH Adjuncts

  • Jessica Yamamoto, Introduction to Nutrition
  • Nan Smith, Introduction to Nutrition
  • Dorelle Engel, Introduction to Nutrition
  • Natasha Benitez, Strategies for Stress Management
  • Katherine Haldeman, Strategies for Stress Management
  • J.R. Denson, First Aid, CPR & Med Emergency
  • Aimee Richardson, Issues with Women's Health
  • Jasmine Stewart, Art and Science of Wellbeing 
  • Shari Wohl, Intro to Human Health/Disease
  • Stephanie Mull, Sports Nutrition
  • Evan Reister, Sports Nutrition
  • Nancy Katz, Health in School Environment
  • Tracy Gensler, Strategies for Weight Control
  • Scott Keller, Health Communication 
  • Nancy Katz, Health in School Environment 
  • Edrin Williams, Science of Health Promotion 
  • Sarah Pflugradt, Science of Health Promotion 

HFIT Adjunct Faculty

  • Bridget Bowers, Walking and Jogging and Cross Training
  • Jessica Gioe, Yoga 
  • Alyson Gluecksmann, Yoga 
  • Holly Meyer, Yoga
  • Brigid Rauch, Yoga
  • Denisia Rodgers, Yoga.
  • Ayanna Smith, Yoga
  • Roger Brown, Golf
  • Doug Schwanke, Princ & Tech's of Weight Train
  • Jasmine Stewart, Principles & Techniques of Weight Training 
  • Glen Kalbaugh, Principles & Techniques of Weight Training
  • Barbara Bernstein, Salsa Dancing

Emeritus Faculty

  • Mr. Billy Coward, Associate Professor
  • Dr. Jolynn Gardner, Associate Chair & Professor
  • Dr. D. Geiser, Professor
  • Dr. V. Hawke, Professor
  • Dr. J. Hubbell, Professor
  • Dr. Robert Karch, Professor
  • Mr. Larry Nyce, Associate Professor
  • Dr. Barbara Reiman, Associate Professor
  • Dr. Margaret Safrit, Professor