Sam Fahmy is the Director of Communications for the Georgia State University School of Public Health. In this role, he leads the development and implementation of a multi-platform communication strategy that leverages digital marketing, websites and social media, print pieces and media relations.

He joined the GSU School of Public Health in 2022 and has held several leadership positions in higher education communications. He began his career as a newspaper reporter covering health and medicine. He holds a master’s degree in Science and Technology Journalism from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Georgia. His honors include awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, The Tennessee Press Association, the Louisiana Press Association and the Louisiana Public Health Association.

Mahmud Sheku, MPH, MS, is a doctoral student in epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. His research interests include population-level vaccine impact evaluation, infectious disease modeling, and vaccine clinical trials.

Prior to starting his PhD at Emory, Mahmud worked as an epidemiologist for EpiDriver, covering the African region. Mahmud has previous experience in large-scale vaccine clinical trials in Africa and Latin America, supporting clinical operations for Covid-19, influenza, chikungunya, dengue, RSV, and Ebola vaccines. He has also supported the design of health and demographic surveillance studies for the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS).

Caroline Phelps serves as a Study Abroad Advisor at Georgia State University. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Languages and Literature from the University of West Georgia in 2020 and will be starting her Master's of Business Administration in Fall 2025 at Georgia State. During her undergraduate journey, Caroline’s curiosity for cross-cultural understanding led her to study abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica and Vienna, Austria. These experiences altered her perspective on the world we live in and opened her eyes to the importance of empathy and cross-cultural communication. Inspired by the profound impact of her own international experiences, Caroline assists students in identifying international opportunities that align not only with their academic path, but also with their personal aspirations, and aims to help them do it affordably. Her aim is to empower students to embark on their own life-changing journeys abroad, fostering a deeper appreciation for global perspectives.

Mark Otto is a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. He is an Environmental Health Officer with over 16 years of experience, 7 years in the USPHS and prior to changing services, 9 years in the US Navy. LCDR Otto serves as the Recruitment Officer and Readiness/Deployment Coordinator for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In this role, LCDR Otto provides leadership and guidance for prospective candidates interested in commissioning to the USPHS Commissioned Corps, Active-Duty Public Health Service (PHS) officers interested in serving at the CDC/ATSDR, and Active-Duty PHS officers seeking reassignments within the CDC/ATSDR. He provides support to Active-Duty PHS officers with maintaining basic readiness and manages deployment requests for PHS officers stationed at CDC/ATSDR. His goal is to educate others about the USPHS Commissioned Corps, assisting in accession and retention towards fulfilling the USPHS Commissioned Corps mission: to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation!

Dr. Brian Barger is a Research Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences and hosted by the Georgia State University’s Center on Excellence and Developmental Disabilities (Center for Leadership in Disabilities). His research focuses on understanding the sources of inequities in the early identification of psychiatric health conditions such as autism.

TaMiko Condoll is a native of New Orleans, LA and proud transplanted Georgia Peach.  She holds a master’s degree in health informatics from Morehouse School of Medicine. As an ORISE Fellow in the Immunizations Systems Branch of the CDC’s Global Immunizations Division, TaMiko supports the Demand for Immunization Team with its efforts in identifying evidence-based solutions to strengthen immunization systems and inform the development, introduction, delivery of, and demand for safe and effective vaccines.

In this role, she is currently coauthoring various manuscripts including a scoping review on gender-related barriers to immunization demand and uptake; a systematic review of interventions impacting caregivers’ perceptions of vaccine safety in routine childhood immunizations; and an evaluation of a family-focused intervention to improve vaccination uptake in Accra, Ghana, to name a few. Her goal as a public health professional is to improve patient-facing health information technologies and to advance health equity and access to quality healthcare for all communities.

Evalye Alexander has 14+ years of robust experience in the Higher Education industry in Career Development, Student Affairs, Student Services, Admissions, and Financial Aid. She’s an advocate for providing individuals with the resources necessary to succeed and has successfully cultivated platforms for students to network with employers, obtaining various job opportunities within the health industry at large. She’s hosted many career readiness workshops and has developed hundreds of professional documents for 40+ industries. As an extension of her enthusiasm to bolster community and resources, Evalye sits on the board of two non-profit organizations that address food insecurity amongst underserved communities, transitional assistance for domestic violence survivors, and teenage pregnancy.

Maha Karim completed her Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a Pre-Med track at the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. Her primary interests in public health are investing in clinical and community-based research and helping promote community health. Maha currently works as a tier-two Clinical Research Associate for ERMI LLC. Ermi is a medical device and program that helps patients recover from severe motion loss.Maha is a MeTa Series alumnus. She has experience working with both qualitative and quantitative research. She also recently published an article with Dr. Elizabeth Armstrong Mensah in the European Medical Society Journal. In her free time, Maha enjoys sleeping and being with her family!

Darion Smith is a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. He is a registered dental hygienist by training with over 10 years of experience in the private and public sectors. LCDR Smith now serves as the dedicated recruitment officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In his current role, LCDR Smith provides leadership and guidance for prospective candidates interested in commissioning to the USPHS Commissioned Corps, Active-Duty Public Health Service (PHS) officers interested in serving at the CDC/ATSDR, and Active-Duty PHS officers seeking reassignments within the CDC/ATSDR. His goal is to educate others about the USPHS Commissioned Corps, assisting in accession and retention towards fulfilling the USPHS Commissioned Corps mission: to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation!

Amy Richards, Data Analyst with the Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics (FACE), is a public health professional and medical anthropologist. Her work focuses on the social dimensions of wellbeing and health systems. Amy is also a certified Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) instructor and works part-time with the Social, Emotional, and Ethical (SEE) Learning program at Emory University’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics. Her interests include health impacts of othering and belonging, asset-based community development, and participatory methodologies.

Kelsey Francis is a Graduate Advisor in the Office of Academic Assistance in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. Kelsey earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Clayton State University, a master’s degree from Strayer University in management and leadership, and has 12 years of experience in higher education. She has previously served as an Academic Advisor in the University Advisement Center, the School of Nursing and Health Professions, and an Enrollment Services Assistant in Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia State University. Before coming to Georgia State University full-time, Kelsey worked in different departments as a student at Clayton State University and formerly Georgia Perimeter College.

Delia Mendez-Valdez graduated with a BSPH degree from the School of Public Health at Georgia State University in the summer of 2023. While taking her last courses as a student, she studied abroad in Ghana and worked as an Atlas Scholar with Dr. Armstrong-Mensah. Delia currently works as the Programs and Communications Manager at We Love Buford Highway, a nonprofit organization in metro Atlanta focused on preserving the multicultural corridor of Buford Highway in Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville. Delia has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 6 years, the majority during her tenure as a college student. Her interests are community health and community development programming for underserved and minority communities.

Phillip Karaya, Karaya Consulting, is an entrepreneur with experience in finance, real estate, and technology. He earned his undergraduate degree in public health and an MBA in finance from Georgia State University. He has worked in pharmacy, has taught business analysis at GSU, and has participated in international programs in Greece and the Dominican Republic. Phillip has also served on boards focused on public health and country relations such as the Model African Union. Along with running a consulting company, Phillip invests in real estate development in Atlanta. He serves as the chapter president for the US Africa Chamber of Commerce, which helps facilitate business between US, African, and Caribbean businesses. Phillip's Foundation, a 501c3, is dedicated to supporting children's education, particularly in Kenya and the US. Phillip has ownership interests in other companies focusing on short-term rentals through Airbnb/VRBO and vehicle rentals via Turo. Additionally, Phillip sits on the board of the Atlanta Friendship Initiative, which works to combat racial injustice in the Atlanta community. Phillip has worked in the technology space for two years as the CFO of a software engineering company that helps to create an environment where code and culture align.

Darion Smith is a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. He is a registered dental hygienist by training with over 10 years of experience in the private and public sectors. LCDR Smith now serves as the dedicated recruitment officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In his current role, LCDR Smith provides leadership and guidance for prospective candidates interested in commissioning to the USPHS Commissioned Corps, Active-Duty Public Health Service (PHS) officers interested in serving at the CDC/ATSDR, and Active-Duty PHS officers seeking reassignments within the CDC/ATSDR. His goal is to educate others about the USPHS Commissioned Corps, assisting in accession and retention towards fulfilling the USPHS Commissioned Corps mission: to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation!

Denise Gouveia is the Director of the Office of Academic Assistance for the School of Public Health. She has served as Assistant Director of the Office of Academic Assistance, Administrative Specialist, and Admissions Coordinator for the School of Public Health since 2005. Before coming to the school, Denise was an Admissions Counselor in Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia State University. She has also served as Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Interim Registrar, and Funding Coordinator at the Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences at Cornell University. Denise received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from York College, City University of New York, and her Master of Education in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University. She has over 20 years of experience in higher education administration.

Aishat Olanlege is a second year GSU SPH student pursuing an MPH with a concentration in Health Management and Policy. She has a keen interest in health startups, big data and technology as a tool to fill major gaps and opportunities in healthcare and population health. Aishat's clinical interests include young female contraception, sexual and reproductive health, and prevention of unsafe abortions in women. Her research interests are health and human behavior, especially related to social determinants of health and sustainable primary care models in low- and middle-income countries.

Santita Hooper serves as a Project Manager at the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII). In this role, she manages PHII’s ongoing data modernization initiative. Prior to joining PHII, Santita managed a population-based maternal and child health program at the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH). At GDPH, Santita provided technical assistance to local public health districts and stakeholders, ensured program compliance with state and federal guidelines, and supervised database modifications and enhancements. Santita has over 10 years of experience leading cross-functional teams, administering programs and managing projects in state agency and non-profit settings. She brings a wealth of experience within the areas of continuous quality improvement, contract management and project management. Santita holds a Master of Public Administration from Georgia State University and earned her Project Management Professional certification in 2021.

Piper Hale serves as the Associate Director of Communications for the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII). In this role, Piper manages the communications team and is responsible for supporting the mission of PHII through the coordination and creation of written, visual and digital communications. She is the co-creator, host and producer of PHII’s podcast, “Inform Me, Informatics.” Piper originally came to PHII and the Task Force for Global Health as a Communications Specialist, a role she served in for two years before transitioning to a Communications Manager and later the Assistant Director of Communications. She brought to this position several years of experience working in newspapers, literary journals and higher education communications. Her nonprofit work includes a two-year teaching and writing fellowship with the Deep Center, an award-winning Savannah-based organization recognized in 2015 by the White House for its commitment to promoting literacy and creative expression among public school students. Piper enjoys distilling complex concepts into clear, easily digestible writing to promote accessibility to information that may serve the public good. She has a double B.A. in journalism and anthropology and holds a Master of Public Health in prevention science from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

Julie Fishman, MPH, is the Director of the Office of Library Science within the Office of Science at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Julie has over 26 years of experience at CDC across multiple programmatic areas including chronic disease, environmental health and global health. Julie came to CDC in 1993 as a health policy analyst in the Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) and later became Associate Director for Policy. At OSH, she co-authored several publications on state tobacco control legislation and prepared the first State Tobacco Control Highlights, a state-by-state summary of tobacco-related data. She served in a detail position in the CDC Office of the Director in 2001 immediately following the 9/11 and anthrax attacks. She also has worked in policy and strategy director positions at the National Center for Environmental Health’s Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) and the Center for Global Health’s Division of Global Health Protection. Her prior CDC positions also included serving as Deputy Branch Chief of the DLS Emergency Response and Air Toxicants Branch and Associate Director for Program Development at the National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, where she led several projects to enhance environmental health workforce capacity, including developing the Collegiate Leaders in Environmental Health summer internship.

Julie received a B.A. from Columbia University and an MPH from the University of California, Berkeley in Health Policy and Administration. Before joining CDC, she held several positions, including health policy analyst in the University of California’s Office of Health Affairs, education assistant at the New York City Commission on Human Rights AIDS Discrimination Division, and project associate at the AIDS Treatment Registry.

Darion Smith is a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. He is a registered dental hygienist by training with over 10 years of experience in the private and public sectors. LCDR Smith now serves as the dedicated recruitment officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In his current role, LCDR Smith provides leadership and guidance for prospective candidates interested in commissioning to the USPHS Commissioned Corps, Active-Duty Public Health Service (PHS) officers interested in serving at the CDC/ATSDR, and Active-Duty PHS officers seeking reassignments within the CDC/ATSDR. His goal is to educate others about the USPHS Commissioned Corps, assisting in accession and retention towards fulfilling the USPHS Commissioned Corps mission: to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation!

David-Praise Ebiringa is a Georgia State University alumnus with Summa Cumme Laude honors and a recent MPH graduate from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. He is a published research author in the International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS. Currently, David-Praise works as a healthcare IT consultant for Oracle Cerner and is passionate about healthcare management to increase patient access to quality care that will enhance population health.

Sahil Jiwani is a Consultant in the Public Health sector at Guidehouse, where he performs strategy and operational effectiveness work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Before joining Guidehouse, Sahil held numerous internship and student positions focused on data analysis and research. Last May, he graduated from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health with an MPH in Epidemiology. Prior to that, Sahil attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a degree in public health in 2020. Sahil was born and raised in California but currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Ruschelle M. Leone received her Ph.D. in Psychology (Clinical) from Georgia State University. She completed her clinical internship at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she focused on substance use treatment. Dr. Leone is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences within the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. She is affiliated with the Center for Research on Interpersonal Violence and the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development.

The overarching aim of Dr. Leone’s research program is to inform and develop evidence-based intervention programming to reduce interpersonal violence, with a particular focus on sexual aggression. She is particularly interested in identifying individual-level predictors (e.g., masculine norms, empathy, gender identity) and situational-level factors (e.g., acute alcohol intoxication, peer norms) that are associated with violence. Additionally, Dr. Leone is interested in developing and evaluating prevention programs for interpersonal aggression and substance use in underserved and high-risk populations. Dr. Leone’s research has been funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Department of Defense, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

1. David-Praise Ebiringa, Jake Coldiron, and Kaleb Whitfield. 
   • Genital Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Adverse Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes in Children and Women in sub-Saharan Africa
2. Niha Mitha and Aireona McNair 
   • Mental Health of Syrian Refugees in the United States:Risk Factors and Barriers to Mental Health Care
3. Daima Machang’u, Elise Fernandez, Henricles Jeudy, Misgana Misamo, Natalie Santana, and Ahsan Manji
   • Social Determinants and International College Students in Georgia: Implications for Health Outcomes and Academic Success
4. Lizbeth Reyes and Rebekah Bills
   • Culture, Depression and Coping Mechanisms Among African Americans
5. Nina Rasheed, Darylisha Williams, and Keianna Moyer
   • Implicit Racial Bias, Health Care Provider Attitudes, and Perceptions of Health Care Quality Among African American College Students in Georgia, USA
6. Priya Srinivasan, Dawood Azeemy, and Fayja Habib
   • COVID-19 Stressors and Maternal Mental Health in Georgia, United: Sources, Effects and Recommendations
7. Morelia Torres Diaz
   • Maternal Opioid Abuse and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in the United States

Phillip Karaya, Karaya Consulting, is an entrepreneur with experience in finance, real estate, and technology. He earned his undergraduate degree in public health and an MBA in finance from Georgia State University. He has worked in pharmacy, has taught business analysis at GSU, and has participated in international programs in Greece and the Dominican Republic. Phillip has also served on boards focused on public health and country relations such as the Model African Union. Along with running a consulting company, Phillip invests in real estate development in Atlanta. He serves as the chapter president for the US Africa Chamber of Commerce, which helps facilitate business between US, African, and Caribbean businesses. Phillip's Foundation, a 501c3, is dedicated to supporting children's education, particularly in Kenya and the US. Phillip has ownership interests in other companies focusing on short-term rentals through Airbnb/VRBO and vehicle rentals via Turo. Additionally, Phillip sits on the board of the Atlanta Friendship Initiative, which works to combat racial injustice in the Atlanta community. Phillip has worked in the technology space for two years as the CFO of a software engineering company that helps to create an environment where code and culture align.

Darion Smith is a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. He is a registered dental hygienist by training with over 10 years of experience in the private and public sectors. LCDR Smith now serves as the dedicated recruitment officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In his current role, LCDR Smith provides leadership and guidance for prospective candidates interested in commissioning to the USPHS Commissioned Corps, Active-Duty Public Health Service (PHS) officers interested in serving at the CDC/ATSDR, and Active-Duty PHS officers seeking reassignments within the CDC/ATSDR. His goal is to educate others about the USPHS Commissioned Corps, assisting in accession and retention towards fulfilling the USPHS Commissioned Corps mission: to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation!

Denise Gouveia is the Director of the Office of Academic Assistance for the School of Public Health. She has served as Assistant Director of the Office of Academic Assistance, Administrative Specialist, and Admissions Coordinator for the School of Public Health since 2005. Before coming to the school, Denise was an Admissions Counselor in Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia State University. She has also served as Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Interim Registrar, and Funding Coordinator at the Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences at Cornell University. Denise received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from York College, City University of New York, and her Master of Education in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University. She has over 20 years of experience in higher education administration.

Aishat Olanlege is a second year GSU SPH student pursuing an MPH with a concentration in Health Management and Policy. She has a keen interest in health startups, big data and technology as a tool to fill major gaps and opportunities in healthcare and population health. Aishat's clinical interests include young female contraception, sexual and reproductive health, and prevention of unsafe abortions in women. Her research interests are health and human behavior, especially related to social determinants of health and sustainable primary care models in low- and middle-income countries.

Santita Hooper serves as a Project Manager at the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII). In this role, she manages PHII’s ongoing data modernization initiative. Prior to joining PHII, Santita managed a population-based maternal and child health program at the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH). At GDPH, Santita provided technical assistance to local public health districts and stakeholders, ensured program compliance with state and federal guidelines, and supervised database modifications and enhancements. Santita has over 10 years of experience leading cross-functional teams, administering programs and managing projects in state agency and non-profit settings. She brings a wealth of experience within the areas of continuous quality improvement, contract management and project management. Santita holds a Master of Public Administration from Georgia State University and earned her Project Management Professional certification in 2021.

Piper Hale serves as the Associate Director of Communications for the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII). In this role, Piper manages the communications team and is responsible for supporting the mission of PHII through the coordination and creation of written, visual and digital communications. She is the co-creator, host and producer of PHII’s podcast, “Inform Me, Informatics.” Piper originally came to PHII and the Task Force for Global Health as a Communications Specialist, a role she served in for two years before transitioning to a Communications Manager and later the Assistant Director of Communications. She brought to this position several years of experience working in newspapers, literary journals and higher education communications. Her nonprofit work includes a two-year teaching and writing fellowship with the Deep Center, an award-winning Savannah-based organization recognized in 2015 by the White House for its commitment to promoting literacy and creative expression among public school students. Piper enjoys distilling complex concepts into clear, easily digestible writing to promote accessibility to information that may serve the public good. She has a double B.A. in journalism and anthropology and holds a Master of Public Health in prevention science from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

Julie Fishman, MPH, is the Director of the Office of Library Science within the Office of Science at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Julie has over 26 years of experience at CDC across multiple programmatic areas including chronic disease, environmental health and global health. Julie came to CDC in 1993 as a health policy analyst in the Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) and later became Associate Director for Policy. At OSH, she co-authored several publications on state tobacco control legislation and prepared the first State Tobacco Control Highlights, a state-by-state summary of tobacco-related data. She served in a detail position in the CDC Office of the Director in 2001 immediately following the 9/11 and anthrax attacks. She also has worked in policy and strategy director positions at the National Center for Environmental Health’s Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) and the Center for Global Health’s Division of Global Health Protection. Her prior CDC positions also included serving as Deputy Branch Chief of the DLS Emergency Response and Air Toxicants Branch and Associate Director for Program Development at the National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, where she led several projects to enhance environmental health workforce capacity, including developing the Collegiate Leaders in Environmental Health summer internship.

Julie received a B.A. from Columbia University and an MPH from the University of California, Berkeley in Health Policy and Administration. Before joining CDC, she held several positions, including health policy analyst in the University of California’s Office of Health Affairs, education assistant at the New York City Commission on Human Rights AIDS Discrimination Division, and project associate at the AIDS Treatment Registry.

Darion Smith is a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. He is a registered dental hygienist by training with over 10 years of experience in the private and public sectors. LCDR Smith now serves as the dedicated recruitment officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In his current role, LCDR Smith provides leadership and guidance for prospective candidates interested in commissioning to the USPHS Commissioned Corps, Active-Duty Public Health Service (PHS) officers interested in serving at the CDC/ATSDR, and Active-Duty PHS officers seeking reassignments within the CDC/ATSDR. His goal is to educate others about the USPHS Commissioned Corps, assisting in accession and retention towards fulfilling the USPHS Commissioned Corps mission: to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation!

David-Praise Ebiringa is a Georgia State University alumnus with Summa Cumme Laude honors and a recent MPH graduate from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. He is a published research author in the International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS. Currently, David-Praise works as a healthcare IT consultant for Oracle Cerner and is passionate about healthcare management to increase patient access to quality care that will enhance population health.

Sahil Jiwani is a Consultant in the Public Health sector at Guidehouse, where he performs strategy and operational effectiveness work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Before joining Guidehouse, Sahil held numerous internship and student positions focused on data analysis and research. Last May, he graduated from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health with an MPH in Epidemiology. Prior to that, Sahil attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a degree in public health in 2020. Sahil was born and raised in California but currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Ruschelle M. Leone received her Ph.D. in Psychology (Clinical) from Georgia State University. She completed her clinical internship at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she focused on substance use treatment. Dr. Leone is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences within the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. She is affiliated with the Center for Research on Interpersonal Violence and the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development.

The overarching aim of Dr. Leone’s research program is to inform and develop evidence-based intervention programming to reduce interpersonal violence, with a particular focus on sexual aggression. She is particularly interested in identifying individual-level predictors (e.g., masculine norms, empathy, gender identity) and situational-level factors (e.g., acute alcohol intoxication, peer norms) that are associated with violence. Additionally, Dr. Leone is interested in developing and evaluating prevention programs for interpersonal aggression and substance use in underserved and high-risk populations. Dr. Leone’s research has been funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Department of Defense, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

1. David-Praise Ebiringa, Jake Coldiron, and Kaleb Whitfield. 
   • Genital Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Adverse Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes in Children and Women in sub-Saharan Africa
2. Niha Mitha and Aireona McNair 
   • Mental Health of Syrian Refugees in the United States:Risk Factors and Barriers to Mental Health Care
3. Daima Machang’u, Elise Fernandez, Henricles Jeudy, Misgana Misamo, Natalie Santana, and Ahsan Manji
   • Social Determinants and International College Students in Georgia: Implications for Health Outcomes and Academic Success
4. Lizbeth Reyes and Rebekah Bills
   • Culture, Depression and Coping Mechanisms Among African Americans
5. Nina Rasheed, Darylisha Williams, and Keianna Moyer
   • Implicit Racial Bias, Health Care Provider Attitudes, and Perceptions of Health Care Quality Among African American College Students in Georgia, USA
6. Priya Srinivasan, Dawood Azeemy, and Fayja Habib
   • COVID-19 Stressors and Maternal Mental Health in Georgia, United: Sources, Effects and Recommendations
7. Morelia Torres Diaz
   • Maternal Opioid Abuse and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in the United States