Health Studies Faculty & Staff

Department Leadership & Main Office

Anastasia Snelling Department Chair, Health Studies CAS | Health Studies

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

stacey@american.edu

(202) 885-6278

Melissa Hawkins Senior Professorial Lecturer and Associate Chair of Health Studies CAS | Health Studies

Melissa Hawkins is the Associate Chair in the Department of Health Studies at American University. Dr. Hawkins is an epidemiologist with experience in the application of public health methodologies to

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

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, Masters 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 Provost Associate 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 is a Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Health Studies. Demonica Jones received her BS in Community Health and Spanish from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, an MPH and

demonicj@american.edu

(202) 885-6179

Robert Karch Professor CAS | Health Studies

Robert Karch has been a member of American University faculty since 1969. He is a full professor in the School of Education, Teaching & Health. He is also the founder and Director of both the Masters

rkarch@american.edu

(202) 885-6285

Caroline Kuo Associate Professor CAS | Health Studies

Dr. Caroline Kuo is an Associate 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 adjunct

ckuo@american.edu

(202) 885-3054

Jessica Owens-Young Associate Professor CAS | Health Studies

Jessica Young is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Studies at American University. Her work broadly focuses on health in economically distressed and under-resourced communities. Dr. Y

jessica@american.edu

(202) 885-2726

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

Evan Reister Professorial Lecturer CAS | Online Partner Programs (OLP)

Evan Reister is a Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Health Studies. Evan studied Exercise Science and Neuroscience during his undergraduate years at Transylvania University in Lexington, KY.

ereister@american.edu

Research and ProgramStaff

Bria Hamlet Adjunct Instructor CAS | Health Studies

Bria Hamlet is a Program Manager for the Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities research lab in the Department of Health Studies. Her work is focused on improving health for children and adults in DC co

bhamlet@american.edu

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

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

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
  • Carlos Williams, Multicultural Health
  • Justin Morgan, Multicultural Health
  • Gayle Reznikov,Strategies for Stress Management
  • Natasha Benitez, Strategies for Stress Management
  • Andie Rowe,Strategies for Stress Management
  • Katherine Haldeman, Strategies for Stress Management
  • Christopher Nasti, First Aid, CPR & Med Emergency
  • Aimee Richardson, Issues with Women's Health
  • Rose Kehoe,Art and Science of Wellbeing
  • Jasmine Stewart,Art and Science of Wellbeing
  • Shari Wohl,Intro to Human Health/Disease
  • Stephanie Mull,Sports Nutrition
  • Nancy Katz, Health in School Environment
  • Tracy Gensler, Strategies for Weight Control
  • JD Hoyle,Introduction to Public Health
  • Lynne Arneson,Intro to Infectious Disease
  • Farouq Xssali,Intro to Infectious Disease
  • Jacqueline Lantsman,Health Program Planning
  • Scott Keller,Health Communication
  • Nancy Katz,Health in School Environment
  • Edrin Williams,Science of Health Promotion
  • Sarah Pflugradt,Science of Health Promotion
  • Sharon Saydah,Research Methodology

HFIT Adjunct Faculty

  • Bridget Bowers, Walking and Jogging and Cross Training
  • Brigid Rauch, Yoga
  • Ayanna Smith, Yoga
  • Jessica Gioe,Yoga
  • Alyson Gluecksmann,Yoga
  • Roger Brown,Beginning Golf
  • John Garrett, Tennis
  • Doug Schwanke, Princ & Tech's of Weight Train
  • Jen Pilut,Cross Training
  • Alexandre Ryjik,Fencing
  • Jasmine Stewart,Principles & Techniques of Weight Training
  • Glen Kalbaugh,Principles & Techniques of Weight Training
  • Barbara Bernstein, Salsa Dancing
  • Alexandre Ryjik, Fencing

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
  • Mr. Larry Nyce, Associate Professor
  • Dr. Barbara Reiman, Associate Professor
  • Dr. Margaret Safrit, Professor