Research Faculty
Welcome to the Brooks College of Health Faculty Research Directory. Please utilize the search directory feature to find faculty research topics you may be interested in.
Search the keyword "seeking" to find faculty currently needing research assistants.
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Clinical and Applied Movement Sciences |
Michelle BolingAssociate Dean
Dr. Boling’s research focuses on the prevention and long-term consequences of patellofemoral pain (chronic knee pain), including patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Her research also focuses on effective treatment strategies for individuals with patellofemoral pain. 
James ChurillaProfessor | Director - Kinesiology and Lifestyle Medicine
Dr. James R Churilla is a Professor at the Brooks College of Health and serves as the Graduate Program Director of the Kinesiology & Lifestyle Medicine Program. Dr. Churilla’s overarching research agenda is Lifestyle Medicine, with the following areas of specialty: Cardiometabolic Health; Heart Failure; Muscular Strength; Physical Activity; Sedentary Behavior, and Vascular Health. Dr. Churilla received his BS in Kinesiology from Towson University, MPH in Epidemiology and MS in Cardiovascular Physiology from Florida International University, and PhD in Exercise Physiology/Physical Activity Epidemiology from the University of Tennessee. He completed his post-doctoral training at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Churilla joined UNF in 2007 and has been the recipient of numerous awards for teaching and research. Dr. Churilla’s students have also been recognized for their work by the American Heart Association, American College of Sports Medicine, and the World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease. Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) are available on a competitive basis annually. These are typically ~50% tuition waiver and a modest monthly stipend. Contact Dr. Churilla for more information. 
Curt LoxProfessor
Research centers broadly on the psychosocial benefits of physical activity for special populations including the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with traumatic brain injury, overweight adults, cardiovascular patients, and individuals with HIV-1. 
Jessie Stapleton-MikeAssociate Professor
Dr. Jessie Stapleton-Mike is an Associate Professor in Kinesiology at the University of North Florida, where she has been a faculty member since 2019. She earned her Ph.D. in Health and Exercise Psychology from McMaster University of Hamilton, Ontario, following a B.S. in Exercise and Wellness and an M.S.Ed. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her research focuses on the psychosocial mechanisms and consequences of sport and physical activity, particularly among student-athletes and individuals with mobility impairments. She has secured internal and external funding in support of her research agenda, including support for the interdisciplinary Exercise is Medicine On-Campus initiative, which promotes a healthier, more active campus community. Bridging research and applied practice, Dr. Stapleton-Mike serves as the Mental Performance Consultant for Osprey Athletics and USA Para Powerlifting, experiences that directly tie into her research and teaching. She has developed and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses such as Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Sport, and Behavioral Medicine, which integrate evidence-based strategies to enhance motivation, performance, and well-being. Dr. Stapleton-Mike actively disseminates her research through international conferences and peer-reviewed publications and is committed to translating her research into sustainable, evidence-based change on campus. 
Lindsay TothAssociate Professor
Dr. Toth’s research centers on the measurement of physical activity using both consumer-grade and research-grade wearable activity monitors. Her projects examine the accuracy of step-counting algorithms and explore methods for harmonizing step count data across different devices. She also conducts validation studies on additional metrics such as heart rate and maximal oxygen consumption derived from wearables. Dr. Toth’s work spans both healthy populations and special populations, including individuals in cardiac rehabilitation and children with cerebral palsy. These efforts are carried out through interdisciplinary collaborations across clinical and academic settings. She also contributes to meta-analyses investigating trends in physical activity and the relationship between objectively measured activity and health outcomes. Her research aims to enhance the reliability and applicability of wearable technology in diverse populations. Graduate Assistantships are available on a competitive basis |
Health Administration |
Rob HaleyProfessor | Chair
Dr. Haley is a Professor at the University of North Florida (UNF) in the Brooks College of Health, where he also serves as the Chair of the Department of Health Administration. His research focuses on value-based purchasing and healthcare quality. He is a J. William Fulbright Senior Specialist in Global and Public Health and a Fellow with the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Dr. Haley's extensive professional experience includes roles such as Senior Director of Health Policy and Research for Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Director of Planning and Decision Support at a major integrated delivery system. He also provides consultation to business leaders and government officials on health policy, leadership, management, and healthcare reform. Dr. Haley holds a Ph.D. in Health Policy and Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. He also earned an MBA from the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business Administration and an MHA from the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions. 
Hanadi (Hana) HamadiProfessor | Director - Center for Aging Research
Dr. Hanadi Y. Hamadi is Professor of Health Administration at the University of North Florida, Brooks College of Health. She directs the Center for Aging Research and Adult Studies and serves as Research Collaborator in Gastroenterology at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. She earned her PhD in Health Services Policy and Management from the University of South Carolina in 2014, complemented by a Master's degree from George Mason University. Dr. Hamadi has published over 110+ peer-reviewed articles in leading journals including Health Care Management Review, Journal of Healthcare Management, and Telemedicine and e-Health. Her 2022 work on Medicare and telehealth during COVID-19 was recognized as a Most Cited Paper in 2024. Her research examines healthcare disparities, hospital readmission prevention, nursing workforce development, and how social determinants affect patient outcomes. Current projects include pancreatic cancer early detection, dementia care utilization, and palliative care implementation. Dr. Hamadi has secured over $200,000 in competitive research funding with pending grants totaling over $2 million. She was honored with the Outstanding Faculty Scholarship Award in 2024 and the Michael E. and Sandra P. Samuels Distinguished Alumni Award in 2020. A Variable Workload Professorship in 2022 increased her research time to 40 percent. She serves on national committees for AcademyHealth, the Business and Health Administration Association, and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration. She presents research at international conferences across Australia, Ireland, Italy, and Canada. Research collaborations span King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, Universitaet Klagenfurt in Austria, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. 
Jeffrey HarrisonProfessor | Director - DHA
Jeffrey Harrison PhD, MBA, MHA is a professor of Health Administration and past Chair of the Department of Public Health at the University of North Florida. He received his PhD in Health Services Research from VCU, his MBA from William and Mary and his MHA from the Medical College of Virginia. Jeff has twenty-five years’ experience in health care and is a national and international speaker on a wide range of healthcare topics and has published over forty-six professional articles and three book chapters. In 2020, he completed the third edition of his book: “Essentials of Strategic Planning in Healthcare” published by Health Administration Press. Research agenda includes Healthcare Policy, Strategic Planning in Healthcare, Organizational Performance and Assessment, Decision Support Systems, and Disaster Medical Response. Jeff is a Certified Healthcare Executive and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. 
Sinyoung ParkAssociate Professor
Sinyoung Park, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Administration at the University of North Florida. Dr. Park obtained her doctoral degree in Health Services Research from the University of Florida. Her research areas are Patient Experience, Population Health, Hospital and Community Partnerships, and Healthcare Outcomes. Her current research topics focus on population health management in the hospital industry and patient experience in hospital settings and post-acute care rehabilitation hospital settings. She has published articles in the Journal of Healthcare Management, Population Health Management, Journal of Health Administration Education, and others as well as presented at scientific conferences. 
Shyam ParyaniInstructor/Clinical Professor | Director - EMHA
Shyam Paryani, MD, MHA, FACHE is the Director of the Executive Master of Health Administration Program (EMHA). Dr. Paryani is an MHA graduate of UNF and has been involved at UNF since 2002. Dr. Paryani has almost 100 publications and books. His current research is on patient wellness and monitoring. He is helping develop a Virtual Care Center at UNF. 
Aurora TafiliAssistant Professor
Dr. Tafili received her MHA and MBA from the University of North Florida (UNF), and her M.S., Ph.D., and certification in the Application of Mixed Methods Research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Tafili’s research interests encompass health services research, the application of mixed methods in conjunction with implementation science, healthcare quality and outcomes, and the influence of organizational and systemic factors on healthcare performance. Dr. Tafili has also collaborated and continues to collaborate with faculty members from UNF’s MHA program and UAB’s PhD program, including on several National Institutes of Health funded research grants. She has presented her research nationally and internationally. Currently Seeking Research Assistants 
Jasper XuAssociate Professor | Director - MHA
Dr. Jasper Xu’s research integrates healthcare finance, biostatistics, and health services research to advance value-based care and hospital performance improvement. His work focuses on value-based purchasing (VBP), hospital efficiency, patient experience, telehealth, and social determinants of health (SDOH), applying quantitative modeling to enhance care quality and operational outcomes. With a Ph.D. in Statistics and extensive biostatistical experience at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Dr. Xu brings a translational perspective bridging industry and academia. His funded projects include studies on urinary tract infections and quality in rehabilitation, mobility improvement after stroke, and SDOH-informed care transitions. He has published widely in journals such as Journal of Healthcare Management, Population Health Management, and American Journal of Hypertension. Dr. Xu collaborates with Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, Mayo Clinic, and interdisciplinary teams across BCH to generate actionable insights that improve healthcare delivery. 
Mei ZhaoProfessor | Dean
Dr. Mei Zhao is the Dean of Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida. She previously served as Interim Dean and Chair/Professor of Health Administration. Dr. Zhao earned her Ph.D. in Health Services Organization and Research from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research spans healthcare finance, quality, telehealth, and global health, with numerous peer-reviewed publications and funded grants in these areas. Dr. Zhao has received multiple honors, including UNF’s Distinguished Professor Award, Outstanding International Leadership, Osprey Hero, and the Jacksonville Mayor’s Asian American Association Board Outstanding Community Service Award. She is recognized for her leadership in academic program development, international collaborations, and service to the university and broader community. |
Nursing |
Michele BednarzykClinicAssociate Professor | Director - MSN
Michele's primary research focuses on topics such as: nursing, nurse practitioners, education, health informatics, and international studies. 
Katherine MeutiAssistant Professor | Assistant Director - Nurse Anesthesiology
Katherine Meuti DNP, CRNA, APRN is an Assistant Professor in Nursing and the Assistant Program Director- Anesthesiology Nursing. Her research involves stress response and strengthening resiliency and emotional intelligence. 
Marie Smith-EastAssistant Professor
Dr. Marie Smith-East is an Assistant Professor at the Brooks College of Health School of Nursing at the University of North Florida, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and a nurse scientist. Her research focuses on geographic access to health care utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS), particularly for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Dr. Smith-East is the co-founder of OspreyPsych Telehealth (established Spring 2023)—which is a psychiatric mental health student nurse practitioner practice facilitated by interdisciplinary students at UNF for practice with documentation, psychiatric diagnosing, assessment, and treatment plans through telehealth. In addition to running her own telemedicine practice, she has extensive experience working in community mental health settings, has presented for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) on the "Next Big Thing" in mental health services research, and has shared her expertise for what nurses need to know regarding "Teen Vaping on the Rise" for the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Yes, multiple; preferably students with an interest in mental health or studies in mental health. |
Nutrition and Dietetics |
Andrea ArikawaProfessor | Chair
Dr. Andrea Y. Arikawa is Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Florida (UNF). She holds a PhD in Nutrition with a minor in Biostatistics from the University of Minnesota, where she also completed three years of postdoctoral research. Dr. Arikawa’s academic journey began with a BS and MPH in Nutrition from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Arikawa is a licensed dietitian nutritionist and registered dietitian, and she has held faculty appointments at UNF and the University of Minnesota, including roles as Research Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Program. She has developed and taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses, including advanced topics in nutritional epidemiology, survey design, and nutritional genomics. Dr. Arikawa is a clinical researcher with extensive experience in human trials focused on dietary and behavioral modification, biomarkers of disease, and the interplay between biological markers and psychosocial factors such as stress and anxiety. Her research portfolio includes over 50 peer-reviewed publications and multiple funded grants, with recent work examining the role of fermented foods in modulating gut bacteria, inflammation, and cognitive health in adults. She has also contributed to studies on diet quality, food insecurity, and the impact of dietary interventions on chronic disease risk. Her commitment to mentoring is reflected in her guidance of doctoral dissertations and undergraduate research projects, and she is actively engaged in public service, including media outreach and community health initiatives. 
Kristin BergInstructor | Director - Dietetic Professional Studies
Catherine ChristieProfessor Emeritus
Dr. Catherine Christie is a Distinguished Professor at the Brooks College of Health. Her research interests include community nutrition, the Mediterranean diet and culture, and medical nutrition therapy. Dr. Christie is co-author of four books including The Latino Food Lover’s Glossary, Fat is Not Your Fate, Eat to Stay Young and I’d Kill for a Cookie. She serves as Editor of the Manual of Medical Nutrition Therapy published by the Florida Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and updated each year. She has authored 28 published peer-reviewed journal articles since coming to UNF in 2001. 
Casey ColinAssociate Professor | Director - Nutrition & Dietetics Undergraduate Programs
Dr. Casey Colin's research examines the impact of medical nutrition therapy on clinical outcomes and the use of the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology to strengthen evidence-based dietetic practice. Dr. Colin also investigates innovative, inclusive approaches to nutrition education and adaptive feeding practices for patients with disabilities. She serves on the International Commission of Dietitians Education and Accreditation Steering Council and the Nutrition Care Process Terminology Board of Editors, contributing to global and national advancement of dietetics education and practice standards. 
Alireza Jahan-MihanProfessor
Dr. Alireza Jahan-mihan is a faculty in the Dept Nutrition and dietetics. His ultimate research goal is to unveil the role of functional foods and their dietary bioactive components in health and diseases. Understanding the mechanisms by which bioactive food components influence the risk of development of characteristics of metabolic syndrome including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity and factors affecting appetite and food intake regulatory system is his particular interest. The specific focus of his research is on the physiological and nutritional functions of dietary proteins and peptides. Both animal and clinical approaches are applied. Sports nutrition and developmental programming are two areas that he is currently focusing on. 
Corrie LabyakAssociate Professor
Dr. Labyak is an Associate Professor in the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at UNF. She received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Florida State University and completed the coordinated Master’s degree/dietetic internship (MSDI) at University of North Florida. In 2012, she graduated from University of Florida with a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences. She has worked on multiple research studies focusing on the impact of nutrition education on improving malnutrition across the lifespan, particularly in the elderly. Specifically, Dr. Labyak’s research interests are the impact of nutrition on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). As part of her research, she has extensive experience leading behavioral weight management groups including teaching topics encompassing nutrition, techniques for increasing physical activity, and focusing on behavioral mechanisms i.e. self-monitoring and goal setting. She has trained and guided over 60 students as research assistants on multiple research projects. Dr. Labyak has been appointed to serve on the state’s Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee (ADAC) and is an active member of the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) for ADRD and the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART). 
Jamisha L. LeftwichAssistant Professor | Director - Integrated Graduate Nutrition
Dr. Jamisha Leftwich serves as an instructor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Program Director for the Integrated Future Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics. Her research focus areas include community nutrition, nutrition education and counseling programming, maternal, infant, child health and nutrition, and lactation. 
Meghan NiemczykInstructor and Culinary Lab Coordinator
Meghan Niemczyk serves as an Instructor and Culinary Lab Coordinator in the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at the University of North Florida. She also holds the role of Associate Director at the UNF Center for Nutrition and Food Security, where she oversees the daily operations of the Meals on Wings program. Over the past five years, this initiative has recovered more than 175,000 pounds of food and repackaged and delivered over 225,000 meals to older adults experiencing food insecurity. In addition to Meals on Wings, Meghan leads two innovative culinary programs aimed at enhancing food agency and cooking skills. Instantly Healthy is a cooking skills bootcamp designed for low-income communities, empowering participants to make healthier food choices through hands-on education. Campus Cooks is a meal prep initiative that teaches college students essential cooking skills while stocking a campus freezer with nutritious meals for students facing food insecurity. Meghan holds a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America, a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of North Florida, and is currently completing her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) dissertation at the University of South Florida. Her professional focus areas include food insecurity, food agency, food access, culinary education for college students, and community-based nutrition programming. 
Jill SnyderAssistant Professor | Director - MSDI and DDI
Dr. Jill Snyder is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and serves as the Program Director for the MS in Nutrition, Dietetic Internship Program at UNF. A licensed dietitian nutritionist and registered dietitian, Dr. Snyder brings over 20 years of clinical experience in performance nutrition, eating disorders and weight management. Her research focuses on performance nutrition, particularly hydration strategies, disorered eating pervention, and innovations in dietetic education. Current projects include evaluating wearable hydration monitoring devices against gold-standard methods, developing nutrition education interventions for athletes, and assessing the impact of preceptor supervision on graduate student outcomes. |
Physical Therapy |
Guilherme CesarAssistant Professor
Guilherme (Gui) M. Cesar, PhD, PT, has a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Physical Therapy. He earned his PhD in Biokinesiology from the University of Southern California where he investigated locomotor strategies children employ to control forward momentum during a running gait termination task. Dr. Cesar expanded his research with young adults during his post-doctoral work at the Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. During his post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Cesar also worked closely with Athletic Medicine staff, providing a biomechanical approach to guide safe return to sport after lower extremity injuries. Following, Dr. Cesar worked as the Assistant Research Director of the Movement and Neurosciences Center at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, advancing his pediatric research agenda at the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering. Dr. Cesar's research aims to guide understanding of how balance control can contribute to movement efficiency, enhanced mobility, and participation. 
Chitra Lakshmi K BalasubramanianProfessor
Dr. Chitra Balasubramanian received her Bachelor in Physiotherapy from Manipal University, India and her PhD in Rehabilitation Science from University of Florida. She has been a faculty in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program since 2008, is a licensed physical therapist and the Director of Hicks Hall Research laboratory. The overarching goal of Dr. Balasubramanian’s research program is to motivate the design of personalized rehabilitative interventions for improvement of mobility, walking and balance function in older adults and individuals with neurologic injuries. Much of her focus through her research career has been on studying walking function in individuals who have sustained a Stroke. Dr. Balasubramanian has also been studying approaches for early diagnosis and prevention of falls in older adults. In particular, she is currently expanding her research program in other neurologic populations, such as Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Balasubramanian’s research methods utilize augmented reality, biomechanical, neurophysiologic, and clinical performance-based tools. Seeking up to 4 research assistant positions are available; in addition I am currently accepting students to pursue research independent studies. 
Raine OsborneAssistant Professor | Director - UNF PIER Center
Dr. Osborne is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of North Florida and directs the UNF Center for the Promotion of Innovation and Excellence in Rehabilitation (UNF PIER Center). He is Board-certified (emeritus) in orthopaedic physical therapy and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). He also serves as an editorial board member for the Journal of Physical Therapy Education and is the chair of the American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Education Residency Fellowship Research Collaborative. Dr. Osborne’s research focuses on the intersection of health professions education and learning health systems. Specifically, he examines the role of post-professional education (e.g., residency and fellowship training) in workforce development and retention, organizational culture, and quality of care. Dr. Osborne’s has secured over $200,000 in grants and contracts. His work is published in industry leading journals such as Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Journal, and has been presented at National and International Conferences. 
Sherry O. PinkstaffAssociate Professor | Chair
Dr. Pinkstaff is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of North Florida. Her clinical expertise is in the area of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Her research expertise is in cardiopulmonary exercise testing primarily in patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease and pulmonary hypertension. A passion of hers is to educate current and future PTs about the importance of exercise assessment, prescription and training in all patients with cardiovascular disease or those at risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Pinkstaff has presented at the past meetings of the American Physical Therapy Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Sports Medicine and the Florida Chapter of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. As a stroke survivor herself, she feels particularly passionate about advocating for the cardiovascular health of patients living with chronic stroke. |
Public Health |
Amber BarnesAssociate Professor
Amber Barnes in a One Health researcher focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene risk factors that lead to zoonotic enteric disease risks for vulnerable human and animal populations around the globe. She recognizes the financial, nutritional, and cultural importance of animal husbandry practices and the human-animal bond. Her goal is to better understand zoonotic and reverse zoonotic enteric disease in household and public domains and support appropriate and acceptable tailored interventions and education. She leads the Coastal One Health and Zoonoses lab (www.cohzlab.com). 
Kerry ClarkProfessor
Current studies are focused on obtaining additional evidence of the presence and magnitude of Lyme disease in the South; further optimizing DNA-based tests to identify Lyme infection in humans, animals, and ticks; and proving the existence of "chronic Lyme disease" as a persistent, sometimes treatment-resistant infection. He continues to test human patients, dogs, and ticks removed from humans and their pets across the Southeast. His primary interest is in correcting the current false paradigm that states that Lyme disease is rare in humans, animals, and ticks in the South; that seronegative Lyme disease is rare; and that Lyme disease cannot become a chronic, antibiotic-persistent infection. He believes that the most important avenue by which to improve knowledge and understanding of the true presence and magnitude of Lyme disease is rigorously obtained scientific evidence. Seeking laboratory research assistants 
Nishita (Nishi) DsouzaAssistant Professor
Dr. Nishita Dsouza, also known as Nishi, is an Assistant Professor of Social & Behavioral Science at the University of North Florida. Prior to this position, she was a NIDA T32 postdoctoral research fellow with the Social Intervention Group at the Columbia University School of Social Work. She has extensive research experience in community-engaged research, health equity, implementation science, urban health, social determinants of health, and health in all policies (HiAP). Dr. Dsouza has also worked in public sector at both the state and local levels, in a healthcare administrative internship, and in nonprofit settings. Dr. Dsouza received a PhD in Community Health and Prevention from Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, an MPH degree specialized in Urban Design from Washington University in St. Louis, and a BS in Human Science from Georgetown University. Seeking research assistants
Weimin GaoProfessor | Chair
Dr. Gao's research activities have provided some new perspectives in toxicological sciences, human health, and cancer research by employing lab and field studies to better understand the exposure and effects using different approaches. Seeking research assistants 
Stephanie HooperInstructor
Stephanie Hooper graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2018 with a Master's in Public Health (MPH). She is also a licensed Histotechnologist (HTL) through the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), and previously worked in community healthcare facilities for over ten years before attaining her MPH. Currently, she is an instructor for the University of North Florida, in the Department of Public Health, and the Chief Scientific Officer for a Jacksonville-based company, leading research studies on health behaviors, supplements, and products often with a particular focus on sleep and stress. 
Erin Largo WightProfessor | Director - UNF Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE)
Dr. Erin Largo-Wight is a Professor in the Department of Public Health and the Director of UNF’s Institute of Environmental Research and Education. Her research focuses on environmental health promotion – on environmental health solutions. Dr. Largo-Wight's first line of work is focused on nature contact and well-being. She studies the impact of nature in schools (e.g., outdoor classrooms), workplaces (e.g., biophilic office design and 'bringing nature inside'), clinical settings, and the home on self-reported and physiological measures of stress and health. Her second line of work is focused on facilitating environmental health behavior change. She studies the determinants and/or the promotion of environmental health behaviors such as reducing single-use plastic consumption, recycling, active commuting, and others. 
Katryne Lukens BullInstructor | Director - BSH Public Health
Katryne Lukens Bull, MPH, CLC is an Instructor at UNF with over 25 years of public health practice experience. She was a research manager for over 15 years and has worked as an epidemiologist for State and Local departments of health. Her research focuses on mixed methods approaches, using GIS to understand health disparities, and her primary passion, human lactation. 
Julie MertenProfessor | Assoc Dean - MedNexus
My research involves behavioral cancer prevention, specifically in the areas of skin cancer and tobacco control. I've used my research training to evaluate the effectiveness of school-based sun safety education, analyzed how people utilize the Internet and social media for cancer information, surveyed children, adolescents, and young adults on their skin cancer prevention behaviors assess cancer prevention programs among special populations, and implemented skin cancer assessment and referral intervention to increase national skin cancer screening rates. 
Jonathan MooreAssistant Professor
Dr. Jonathan Moore earned his MPH in Epidemiology from San Diego State University and his PhD in Epidemiology from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. His research focuses broadly on infectious diseases, with two primary areas of emphasis: (1) provider-level determinants of clinical practice guideline (CPG) adherence for infectious disease screening and treatment, and (2) the relationship between infectious diseases, systemic inflammation, and cognitive outcomes, including cognitive performance and dementia risk. Dr. Moore collaborates with faculty at Brigham Young University, the University of Idaho, and California State University. 
Sericea Stallings SmithAssociate Professor
Dr. Sericea Stallings-Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health. She completed her doctoral work in epidemiology at Brunel University London, United Kingdom, where she assessed the mortality effects of the national smoking ban policy in the Republic of Ireland. In addition, Dr. Stallings-Smith completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical epidemiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she assessed the burden and risk factors for infectious diseases among pediatric cancer patients at international partner and collaborating sites in low- and middle-income countries. Her current research agenda focuses on the impacts of smoke-free policies on chronic health outcomes in the United States, the effects of environmental pollutants on human disease, and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on health risks. 
Carlene TaylorClinical Assistant Professor | Director - Integrative Behavioral Health Clinical Training Center
Dr. Carlene Taylor's research agenda is focused on integrative healthcare practices and systems, exploring interprofessional collaboration in education and healthcare practices. Dr. Taylor is engaged primarily in implementation science research with community agency partners and program evaluation following new and innovative service program implementation. The integration of spirituality, creativity, animals, and nature are primary themes of integrative practices explored, seeking ways to expose and empower emerging clinical providers to bring holistic assessment and practices into their professional disciplines. Animal-assisted interventions/animal-assisted therapy, including equine-assisted services also areas of focus. Linking clinical education with real-world community mental health practice is at the center of her current work developing and implementing the Integrative Behavioral Health Clinical Training Center in the Department of Public Health of the Brooks College of Health. Current funding programs have room for both volunteer undergraduate research assistants and a paid student assistant volunteer coordinator. 
Kassie TerrellAssociate Professor
Dr. Kassie Terrell approaches research as a tool for advocacy, using her work to improve mental health outcomes and advance inclusive practices in clinical mental health counseling and behavioral health. She investigates sizeism and body image, exploring how fat phobia, body shame, and weight bias influence mental health and professional practice. Her work on sexual health and wellness examines LGBTQIA+ mental health, adverse childhood experiences and sexual behavior, access to care, and highlights how social and environmental factors shape well-being. She also studies and promotes inclusive training practices for healthcare professionals, strengthening competence, affirming care, and advocacy within counseling and healthcare education. Across these areas, Dr. Terrell uses her research to guide practice, inform health interventions, and foster meaningful social change in the communities she serves. 
Tes TuasonProfessor | Clinical Director - CMHC
Dr. Tes Tuason was born and raised in the Philippines, where she learned resilience of spirit and used one's personal power for transformative teaching and social justice research. She is a Professor, Clinical Director of the CMHC program, and a Licensed Psychologist. She did her Ph.D. at the University of Albany and her postdoc at the University of Utah Counseling Center and the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. Her research interests have focused on three areas: a) economic inequality and poverty such as investigating poverty's determinants, its consequences, the influence of cultural values, ways of coping, and effective ways for upward mobility, b) minority identity formation (ethnicity and socio-econmic status) as it relates to counseling, well-being and health, and c) family, adolescent, and child issues utilizing systems and cross-cultural perspectives (i.e., decision-making, creativity, overseas working differentiation from family). She has over 50 publications and over 100 conference presentations. 
Jessie YansonAssistant Professor
Dr. Yanson is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of North Florida. Additionally, Dr. Yanson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Qualified Supervisor (QS) in Florida as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Her research interests include working with intersectional and neurodiverse individuals and their families, advancing multiculturally competent and evidence-based supervision practices, and examining the effects of high-impact teaching practices—such as study abroad programming and the integration of technology in counselor education—on counselor preparation and development. |