ARNOLD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH - Key Persons
Addy Haage is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health. She has done research in STEM learning, ecology, diabetes, and most recently she has worked on studies involving smoking cessation with cigarettes and e-cigarettes. She is passionate about the intersection between psychology, public health, and health equity.
Adebusola Ogunnaike is a doctoral student in in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. She is passionate about reducing Non-Communicable Diseases, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Prior to enrolling at the UofSC, Adebusola worked on tobacco control issues in the Nigerian Ministry of Health and led tobacco control advocacy trainings in several African countries.
Andrea K. Henderson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology. Her research focuses on the role of religion among minoritized populations, especially Black Americans, in the face of major life events, stress and racial discrimination. She has been studying how religiosity may explain the differential impact of tobacco control policies across minority and majority groups in the US.
Andrew Chen is an undergraduate Honors College student working toward a degree in Public Health. He is passionate about preventive medicine and healthcare equity. He has been involved with research projects related to tobacco messaging and reproductive healthcare access.
Anne Kowalski is a Junior Public Health B.A. major from Walhalla, South Carolina. After graduation, she hopes to receive her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. In her free time, she loves to run or exercise in some way, read, and is currently learning to crochet!
Brian Senk is a doctoral student in the department of Biostatistics. He supports the team by conducting cross-sectional and longitudinal data analyses he has learned in the classroom over many years.
Dr. Armstrong's research examines the etiology of health behaviors related to pediatric obesity. Her work aims to leverage intensive longitudinal data to examine the predictors and dynamics health behaviors including sleep, screen time, sedentary behavior, and mental health. Based in a socio-ecological perspective, her work spans multiple levels of influence, from environmental, to social/interpersonal and biological.
Brittany is a graduate student in the MPH Physical Activity and Public Health program. She earned her BS degree in Exercise Science from Lander University. Her research interest include cancer prevention, food for health, healthcare accessibility, and worksite wellness. Brittany also enjoys creating playlists, traveling, exercising, and spending time with her loved ones.
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Member of the Core Team
- Research Associate, South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network
Catrina Plyler is CARE's Business Manager and the one who keeps all the trains running on time. With an accounting background, Plyler is a wizard with a spreadsheet, and is credited with exceptional organizational skills. She is also a jack of all trades, also taking care of the Center's human resources, payroll, and general office management. Catrina is also known throughout CARE as a tireless cheerleader for the entire team.
Hired on at the beginning of the 2020 pandemic, Catrina had an unusual introduction to working at CARE. However, it didn't take long for her to declare the Center a wonderful place to work. "It's amazing here," she says. "We have phenomenal people who do great work for our communities. I love it when the office is full and buzzing with energy. I'm just blessed to be in this position."
Catrina is a true Gamecock through and through, having attended USC and having worked in the accounting department of the Greek Village prior to coming to CARE. She is also a devoted member of her sorority Kappa Alpha Theta, having held many offices, including president and currently treasurer.
When she is not at work, Catrina likes to spend time with her family. She has known her husband since they were eight years old and calls him her best friend-even though he is a Clemson fan. They have a daughter and son together.
Charity Ntansah is a doctoral student in in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. She is conducting research on ways to leverage communication to promote healthy behaviors like smoking cessation among minority and vulnerable groups. Prior to UofSC, Charity worked as a health communication specialist on several national campaigns and participated in CDC's Zika Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task force as an ORISE fellow.
Dr. Pellegrini's research focuses on the development and implementation of technology-supported behavioral interventions targeting diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior and weight loss.
Chung Li Wu is a Doctoral Student in the Department of Biostatistics. He leads the team's analyses of real-time, intensive data collection through ecological momentary assessment. This work dovetails with his professional interests in correlated data analysis, statistical methods in clinical trials, and statistical programming.
Claudia Lagnese is an undergraduate student at the Arnold School of Public Health pursing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health. She is most interested in the interdisciplinary relationship between the environment and health.
Cortney is a Junior Exercise Science major pursuing a career as an orthopedic PA. She currently works as a medical assistant at Sandhills Pediatrics and is involved in multiple clubs on campus. Her main research interests include: the effects of behavioral interventions on surgical rehabilitation from sports-related injuries and physical activity in youth. She loves playing and watching sports, especially soccer. In her free time, she enjoys reading a book, going to the beach, or trying new coffee shops.
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinator for the CDC Phone Based Walk With Ease Study
Daniel Heidtke is the project coordinator for the CDC Phone Based Walk With Ease Study. Daniel attended USC for both undergrad and graduate school where he got his BS in Exercise Science and MPH in Physical Activity and Public Health. Daniel is passionate about arthritis pain management, technology in weight loss, and active transportation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Core Team
- Principal Investigator
- Professor & Chair, Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior
Daniyal is a Junior B.S. Exercise Science major from Charleston, SC. In the future, he is looking to attend medical school and is aiming towards specializing in surgery. He is also interested in the research and advancement of robotic surgery. In his free time, he enjoys staying active in his fraternity, listening to music, and cheering on Seattle sports teams. Also, a huge Tame Impala fan!
An invaluable asset to the CARE team, Dave Murday is a veteran of not just CARE, but of South Carolina Public Health in general.
Job Titles:
- Director, Chester County Literacy Council
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Quality & Patient Safety, South Carolina Hospital Association
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of the Center for Environmental Risk
- Professor and Director of the SmartState Center for Environmental Nanoscience
Jamie Lead is the Director of the Center for Environmental Risk and Nanoscience.
Job Titles:
- Doctor of Physical Therapy
Job Titles:
- Clinical Assistant Professor
Edna Arillo-Santillán is a Research Professor in the Department of Tobacco Research at the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) in Mexico. For 20 years, she has been conducting research to evaluate school and federal policies to prevent tobacco use in Mexico, with a particular focus on tobacco warning label policy.
Dr. Adams' research includes the promotion of healthful dietary patterns to prevent pediatric obesity and reduce health inequities. Her work investigates parenting and family-based influences on behaviors related to child obesity risk (e.g., nutrition, sleep patterns), in order to prevent the intergenerational transmission of obesity. She also conducts investigations on federal nutrition policies (e.g., National School Lunch Program) to ensure children from all income levels have access to healthful nutrition for chronic disease prevention.
Emily Loud is a doctoral student in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. Her interests include tobacco control, health communication, and global health, with specific interests in health literacy and risk perceptions associated with tobacco use. Before joining the HPEB department as an MPH student, Emily served in the Peace Corps in Rwanda from 2016-2018.
Job Titles:
- Endowed Professor of Nursing, College of Nursing
Job Titles:
- Public Information Director
Farahnaz Islam is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Biostatistics. She is interested in the analysis of revealed preference data collected from discrete choice experiments, having conducted these studies in a variety of countries (i.e., Australia, Canada, US, Mexico, Guatemala). Her dissertation aims to bridge the gap between the theoretical foundation and validation of this method, while assisting tobacco control researchers with its practical application.
Frederic Loosli earned his Master's degree in chemistry and PhD in environmental chemistry at the University of Geneva. After a postdoc in biophysics at Paris Diderot he joined Prof. Baalousha group at the University of South Carolina to investigate the detection and quantification of manufactured nanoparticles in environmental systems.
Gabriela Armendariz is a doctoral student in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. She is interested in the design and evaluation of population-level health interventions to prevent overweight and obesity during childhood. Her dissertation research focuses on the influence of school food policy environments on children's dietary behaviors.
Job Titles:
- Behavior Associate Professor
Holly Pope has a long history with USC, having worked for the university while receiving her master's in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior in 2003 and her doctorate in 2010. Holly remained with the Arnold School of Public Health, working as a qualitative researcher focusing on the mental health benefits of social capital and also using public health approaches to improve food systems.
Holly came to CARE in January of 2022, drawn to the impact that the center has on the community. "CARE uses rigorous research and evaluation methods that stakeholders can utilize to address complex health issues, especially among vulnerable populations," she says. It is the "vulnerable populations" part of that equation that hits Holly's heart. Born and raised in Gaffney, her desire to "be a part of the solution" arose in high school, where "I saw health disparities, particularly along racial lines, and I thought, ‘There has got to be something that can be done.'" At CARE, Holly makes the most of the opportunity to make a difference. "I enjoy being part of a team that gives community partners a space for innovative ideas and helps organizations and communities strategize to reach their vision."
When she is not at work, Holly is the mother of two little kids, "so that is mostly what I do," she says. She loves to hike, ride her bike, and go to the lake, saying, "I am at my happiest when I am outside."
Inti Barrientos-Gutierrez is a Researcher in the Center for Research in Evaluation and Surveys of the Mexican National Institute of Public Health (INSP). His research is focused on product placement and advertising of tobacco products, nicotine consumption in adolescents, and new forms of nicotine consumption.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Biostatistics
James Hardin is a Professor of Biostatistics whose research involves correlated data analysis, including generalized estimating equations and mixed models. He also actively researches discrete data regression models including bivariate outcomes for which joint probabilities may be estimated using copula functions. He has worked with Dr. Thrasher on a variety of NIH-funded projects.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Core Team
- Co - Principal Investigator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Core Team
- Co - Investigator
Job Titles:
- Biostatistics Associate Professor
Jim Thrasher is a Professor in the Department of Health Promotion, Education & Behavior in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. For almost two decades, he also has been a Researcher and Visiting Professor at the Mexican National Institute of Public Health, where much of his research is based. His research projects assess the effects of media and policy on eating and tobacco use across countries. In recognition of his research productivity and impact on science and policy - both nationally and internationally - he received the World Health Organization's World No Tobacco Day Award in 2016. He is also on the Food and Drug Administration's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, which provides information and recommendations to the FDA Commissioner around tobacco product regulation.
Job Titles:
- CEO of the American College of Sports Medicine
Dr. Wang's current research focuses on monitoring engineered and incidental nanoparticles in environmental systems.
Joaquin Barnoya is a physician who completed a Masters in Public Health and a postdoctoral fellow on tobacco control and health services research. Currently he works at the Cardiovascular Surgery Unit of Guatemala, Integra Cancer Institute and Health Sciences Research Institute at Landivar University in Guatemala. His main research interest includes chronic disease prevention focusing on populations strategies for tobacco and obesity control.
Jose Monzon is a medical doctor with a Master of Science in epidemiology. He works at the Health Sciences Research Institute at Landivar University in Guatemala. His research interests include chronic disease risk factors and prevention strategies like tobacco control and nutritional policies to improve quality of life.
Julia Budiongan is a Masters student in the Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior Department. She is passionate about health communication and behavior, social networks, and non-communicable disease. She is particularly interested in working with low- and middle-income communities and for social justice.
Kailyn is a doctoral student in the Department of Exercise Science. She obtained her BS in Health Science from North Greenville University and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from USC. Kailyn is interested in behavioral interventions regarding physical activity, quality of movement, and vestibular rehabilitation. She enjoys volleyball, hiking National Parks, and spending time with friends and family.
Kaitlin is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Exercise Science program. She obtained her BS degree in Exercise Science from Winthrop University. Her research interests include special populations, behavioral interventions, cardiovascular health, and oncology.
Kamelia Afshinnia earned her Master's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Iran University of Science and Technology and her PhD in Environmental Health from the University of South Carolina in 2018. She studied the transformation, deposition and aggregation behavior of nanomaterials in the environment and the how the interaction of nanomaterials with natural environmental components impact on these processes.
KD is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Exercise Science. She obtained her BS in Exercise Science from Slippery Rock University and her MPH in Physical Activity and Public Health from USC. KD is interested in behavioral interventions targeting physical activity, sedentary behavior and weight loss. Her dissertation will explore factors influencing movement behaviors and affect among dog owners. KD is a Cleveland sports fanatic, Swiftie, and Dog Momma to sweet Sadie Mae.
Job Titles:
- Investigator in the Epidemiology and Health Services Research Unit of the Mexican Social Security Institute
Katia Gallegos-Carrillo is an investigator in the Epidemiology and Health Services Research Unit of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Her research assesses and develop interventions that reduce non-communicable disease by addressing key behavioral risk factors like physical activity, diet, and smoking. She is particularly interested in binational approaches that compare Mexico and the US.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Assistant Professor
Landon is an undergraduate student at The University of South Carolina pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. She will graduate in spring of 2024 and plans to pursue a career in Physical Therapy or attend an accredited nursing program. She is interested in how nutrition and activity levels impact health and chronic diseases.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Core Team
- Co - Investigator
Job Titles:
- Researcher in the Center for Research in Eva
Liz Cruz-Jiménez is a Researcher in the Center for Research in Evaluation and Surveys of the Mexican National Institute of Public Health (INSP). Lizeth has participated in the planning, development, and dissemination of research projects related to the consumption patterns of tobacco products and the sexual health of adolescents. She is a special interest in preventive health and also in the design and evaluation of programs with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodological approaches.
Mahbub's current research focuses on monitoring and characterizing the properties of engineered and incidental nanomaterials released from fires at the wildland urban interface.
Mahmudun's current research focuses on the detection and quantification of engineered nanoparticles in environmental systems.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate at CARE
A Research Associate at CARE since 2019, Maria McClam received her PhD in Environmental Health Sciences at the Arnold School of Public Health at USC in 2022. She earned her MS in the same field of study from USC in 2018. Maria's research intersects community health and the environment, with an emphasis on women's health. She applies quantitative and qualitative methodology to help community partners easily understand data and display the impact of their programs. Her current projects are focused on evaluating maternal and child health home visiting programs, partnerships to support pregnant and parenting teens, environmental health garden-based experiential learning projects, and community-based health promotion interventions. She also has expertise in environmental contaminants, water quality, women's reproductive health, and infertility.
"It is really rewarding that our work here has a purpose," she says. Maria spends a lot of time on the qualitative side, speaking with participants in various programs. This work at CARE "also keeps me humble, as I hear stories that let me know how fortunate I am." These experiences are motivating as well. "When our information is correctly utilized it has a very important impact."
An avid world traveler, Maria has visited over 20 countries. She and her husband keep a map of the world with pins in the places they have visited. They have a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Sophie, who accompanies Maria on weekend adventures in the great outdoors. In addition to her work at CARE, she has spent time teaching yoga and enjoys Pilates and barre.
Job Titles:
- Research Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Core for Applied Research and Evaluation
Job Titles:
- Doctoral Student, Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior
- Graduate Assistant
Dr. Beets' research employs a public health, community-based participatory approach with a focus on identifying real-world and scalable strategies to prevent or reverse obesity and improve children's overall health. Beets leads the Arnold Childhood Obesity Initiative which focuses on improving the health and well-being of children.
Mithun Sikdur earned his Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Nottingham, UK in 2013 and his PhD from the University of South Carolina in 2019. He investigated the effect of metal and metal oxide nanoparticle size dispersity on their properties, uptake and toxicity.
Job Titles:
- Principal Investigator / Associate Professor of Environmental Nanoscience
Job Titles:
- Director, Consortium for Latino Health Studies / Clinical Associate Professor
A mother of two teenagers, Nazratun Monalisa's career in public health was inspired by her desire to do "something good for the children." She began her work in her native Bangladesh, where she was a part of a large project sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve the health of children aged 5 and under.
Monalisa was also co-principal investigator of another large effort addressing childhood obesity in Bangladesh from the chronic disease center funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Job Titles:
- Director, Center for Applied Research and Evaluation
Dr. Weaver's work focuses on helping professionals that teach and care for school age children to create safe and healthy environments. He is currently conducting research in schools and out of school time programs to address unhealthy weight gain in youth. Dr. Weaver has expertise in physical education, promotion of youth healthy eating and physical activity, and measurement of healthy eating and physical activity.
Rachel Davis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior. Her research uses qualitative and quantitative methods to better understand how culture, race, and ethnicity influence health communication and survey methodology, with a particular focus on working with Latinx and African American populations. Her research with Dr. Thrasher's team had evaluated the effectiveness of cigarette warning labels and cessation messages across diverse populations, as well as international research on the health equity impact of food policies.
Rosibel Rodríguez-Bolaños, PhD is a Research Professor in the Department of Tobacco Research at the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) in Mexico. Her tobacco control research takes a gender perspective on adolescents and adult smokers in Mexico, including using text messages to promote smoking cessation. Her current research focuses on smoking, e-cigarette use, and other substance use among sexual minorities in Mexico.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance
- Exercise Science Professor
- Professor
- Science Professor
Exercise Science Professor Russell Pate has been appointed to the 2018 Physical Activity Advisory Committee. He also served on the 2008 committee to advise on the first set of Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Russ Pate, Ph.D., chairman of the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance, and Jim Whitehead, CEO of the American College of Sports Medicine, will unveil and explain innovative approaches and strategies of a new 2016 National Physical Activity Plan that will make a profound difference in American health.
Russell Pate, professor of exercise science in the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health, has been named a 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.
Dr. Burkart's research aims to 1) understand the individual, family, social, and environmental factors that contribute to children's sleep health 2) examine underlying mechanisms that lead to inconsistent sleep behavior, and 3) develop and test novel intervention strategies to enhance children's health and well-being. Dr. Burkart completed her postdoctoral training at the University of South Carolina. She earned her MS in Kinesiology, MPH in Epidemiology, and PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Scott is a doctoral student in the Department of Exercise Science. Scott comes from Geisinger Medical Center, formerly serving as the metabolic laboratory manager within the Center for Nutrition and Weight Management. His research interests include targeted lifestyle interventions for patients with obesity, osteoarthritis and other metabolic disorders.
Sei-Hill Kim is a Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications whose research interests are at the intersection of the media and social issues, particularly as they relate to public health, science, politics, and public relations. He examines how these issues are presented in the media and the effects these representations have on key audience segments. His work with Dr. Thrasher has focused on media coverage of tobacco policies, including regulation of novel tobacco products, in the context of the US and South Korea.
Shannon Porto is a Project Assistant, working as a member of the Business Management team at CARE. Shannon describes her role as catch-all, taking care of invoicing, reimbursements, purchasing, and a multitude of other detail-oriented jobs that she excels at managing.
Shannon has been a part of CARE since 2008. She describes her job as "making sure everything runs smoothly for our researchers."
Part of her job is being familiar with the frequently complex university system and helping CARE researchers navigate that system. She is quick to praise the collaborative nature of CARE. "Everybody really comes together to make things happen," she says. Shannon is in the perfect position to contribute to the team, as she is task-oriented, efficient, and precise.
When she is not at CARE, Shannon says she loves to be at home with her husband. They have two dogs, a cat, and six hermit crabs. She has a passion for gardening and wildlife, cultivating a green space that feeds the birds, animals, and pollinators with native species of plants. Shannon also enjoys puzzles, Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes and playing board games with her husband.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Core Team
- Co - Investigator
Sweta is a graduate student in the MPH Physical Activity and Public Health program. She received her BS degree in Public Health from USC. Her research interests include women's health, sports medicine, and physical activity. Sweta enjoys listening to Taylor Swift, reading, baking, and spending time outdoors in her free time.
The primary library for students at the University of South Carolina, Thomas Cooper Library houses seven levels of research materials, subject matter experts and partner organizations that complement your learning experience.
Tyson is a junior B.S. Public Health major. In the future, he would like to attend medical school and eventually become an orthopedic surgeon. His research interests include behavioral interventions in relation to sedentary behavior, as well as the effects of motor control on muscle function and disease. In his free time, he can be seen on nature walks, watching Netflix, and volunteering at the free medical clinic.
Victoria Lambert is a doctoral student in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. She is interested in how the effectiveness of antismoking messages is influenced by social network characteristics. Victoria's dissertation research aims to evaluate how sociocultural and social network characteristics influence conversations about smoking cessation messages among Mexican and Mexican American smokers.
Job Titles:
- Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Self Regional Healthcare