University of Georgia

The MCH LEEDs program brings together a diverse and dedicated team committed to advancing MCH education and community engagement. At the core of the program are the MCH LEEDs scholars. This group comprises high-performing second-year Master of Public Health students selected through a competitive process, who devote over 300 hours to supporting university and community MCH initiatives. The project team, consisting of a principal investigator, two co-investigators, and a graduate assistant, oversees the Title V Catalyst Grant and provides leadership and administrative support. Complementing their efforts, affiliate faculty from various UGA departments contribute expertise in MCH, offering feedback on coursework and helping expand student engagement. Additionally, the Advisory Committee, a collaborative group of faculty, community members, and Ph.D. students, passionate about improving maternal and child health, meets quarterly to provide strategic guidance and ensure the program’s success.

Scholars

Mia Davis is a first-year graduate student at the University of Georgia, pursuing a dual degree in both Social WorkWoman smiles for a headshot in front of a gray background. and Public Health. Mia received her bachelor’s degree in public health from Georgia College & State University (GCSU), where she graduated with honors. During her time at GCSU, she was a member and vice president of the Public Health Student Organization (PHSO), where she worked to help promote education and overall health in her community. During her senior year, Mia interned at a child advocacy center, which helped solidify her passion for working with vulnerable populations. Mia’s research interests focus on maternal and childhood health. After graduate school, she plans to work in private practice and obtain her clinical social work licensure (LCSW), where she intends to work with women and children struggling with their mental health.

 

 

Women smiles for a headshot in front of a white backgroundAlexa DeVilmé is pursuing a dual Master’s in Social Work and Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior at the University of Georgia (UGA). She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Spelman College. Alexa is a research assistant in UGA’s Department of Health Promotion and Behavior and serves as a This Is Public Health (TIPH) Ambassador with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, representing UGA through outreach and virtual engagement to highlight the impact and diversity of public health careers. Her research interests include substance abuse, mental health disorders, and health equity. An aspiring clinical psychologist, Alexa is passionate about integrating public health and social work to enhance mental well-being. She seeks to combine psychological principles with public health strategies and social work interventions to provide holistic, culturally responsive mental health care for diverse communities.

 

Tori Garrett is a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at the University of Georgia concentrating inWoman smiles for headshot in front of trees. Epidemiology. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion from UGA in 2023, graduating cum laude with a minor in Global Health and recognition as a Zell Miller Scholar. Tori currently serves as a Graduate Research Assistant and Data Update Project Coordinator in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Lab in the College of Public Health, where she contributes to a multi-state data project, supervises a team of research assistants, and conducts analyses to inform publications and grant deliverables. She is eager to begin her role as a MCH LEEDs scholar. Her research interests include maternal and child health equity, health disparities, and infectious diseases, specifically sexually transmitted infections. She aspires to work in a federal or state public health role focused on applied epidemiology and data-driven policy development to improve outcomes for underserved populations.

 

 

Woman smiles for a headshot in formal attire.Mary-Hannah Oteju is a second-year dual degree student in the Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health program at the University of Georgia. Her interests span maternal mental health, ambiguous loss, and educational equity for underserved youth. She brings a diverse background, having studied French, Spanish, and Catalan at the University of Cambridge and later teaching middle school foreign language. Drawn to the systems outside of the classroom that impact long-term educational outcomes, she began the dual degree program with an initial focus on school social work, which has since evolved to encompass broader issues in maternal and child health. Mary-Hannah was awarded the Lawanna Renee Barron scholarship for the 2024–2025 academic year in recognition of her commitment to service in African American communities. She currently supports research on military family life as a graduate research assistant in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. She is excited to contribute to innovative approaches that support maternal and child mental health throughout Georgia.

 

 

Makayla Stephens earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UGA and is currently pursuing a dual MasterWoman smiles for a headshot. of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior. For the 2024 – 2025 academic year, she was awarded the Pauline Durant Lide Scholarship in recognition of her commitment to academic excellence and the field of social work. In 2021, she founded Project Flo-Less, an initiative addressing poverty through education, access, and advocacy. Her professional and research interests include maternal and child health, reproductive health, and health education. She is passionate about advancing justice and promoting equitable access to care, particularly within marginalized communities. Looking ahead, Makayla plans to pursue a career as a medical social worker and health educator. She also hopes to become a certified doula, extending her ability to support women and families through pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.

 

 

Woman smiles in graduation regalia.Emma Vann is a second-year Master of Public Health (MPH) candidate in Health Policy and Management at the University of Georgia. She proudly graduated summa cum laude from Georgia College and State University (GCSU) with a B.S. in Public Health and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. At GCSU, she was able to combine the holistic classroom experience with real-world experience in research, community health initiatives, and policy advocacy. At GCSU, she was exposed to several leadership opportunities and was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. Her research interests include reproductive rights and justice, maternal health, and sexual health. She aims to pursue a leadership role in health policy, where she can work to eliminate barriers to healthcare access and reduce health disparities. She is especially interested in improving maternal health through combating the high maternal mortality rates for women of color.

 

 

Project Team

Rebecca Wells, PhD, MSW, MPH, is a Clinical Associate Professor, jointly appointed to the Department of Health PromotionWoman smiles in a black shirt in front of a brick wall for a headshot & Behavior in the College of Public Health and the School of Social Work, and coordinator of UGA’s Master of Social Work-Master of Public Health program. She is an educator and administrator with expertise in disability, maternal and child health, public health, social work, evaluation, healthcare, health policy, interdisciplinary training, and program coordination.

Dr. Wells serves as the Program Director and principal investigator for MCH LEEDs, where she supports UGA’s next generation of MCH Scholars to develop Maternal and Child Health Leadership Competencies to improve the health and well-being of Georgia’s mothers, children, and families. She enjoys mentoring students of all types as they form their professional identity.

 

 

Women smiles for a headshot in front of greenery.

Lucy Annang Ingram, PhD, MPH, is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Promotion & Behavior in the College of Public Health at UGA.  She is a public health scholar whose research focuses on eliminating health inequities among racial and ethnic minoritized populations through community-engaged approaches and sustainable academic-community partnerships.

She has developed and implemented training programs to advance scholarship in aging, diversity, and maternal and child health, and teaches courses about social justice, sexual and reproductive health, and health promotion.

Her work has positioned her as a trusted mentor, teacher, and researcher in the areas of diversity, aging, and maternal health, with a strong emphasis on translating research into programs that have the multiplicative effect of promoting optimal health and training the next generation of public health leaders.

Dr. Ingram serves as a co-investigator for MCH LEEDs.

 

Melissa Howard, PhD, MPH, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion & Behavior and DirectorWoman smiles for a headshot. of Online Programs in the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia. A Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES), she specializes in health promotion program planning and evaluation in both academic and community settings. She is a co-investigator for MCH LEEDS, leading evaluation efforts on workforce development and applied training. She also co‑chairs the State of the Public’s Health Conference, an annual event that highlights emerging public health issues and strengthens collaboration among students, practitioners, and community partners.

Before joining UGA, Dr. Howard held faculty and leadership roles at Florida International University, directing the HRSA-funded MCH Public Health Catalyst Program and contributing to major evaluation initiatives, including Florida’s Closing the Gap program and FIU’s NIH-funded RCMI. Her interests include child and adolescent health, workforce development, program evaluation, and innovative, equity-focused public health education across in-person, hybrid, and online formats.

 

Woman smiles for a headshot.Courtney Nutt is a second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Health and a Master of Social Work, driven by a commitment to advancing sexual health education reform. Her academic and professional interests center on child and maternal health, particularly the ways sexual health influences family and community well‑being. As a mother of two, Courtney brings both personal insight and deep passion to her work in promoting healthier futures for children and families. She currently serves as the Graduate Assistant for the MCH LEEDs Program, where she collaborates with the project director, co‑investigators, and MCH LEEDs scholars on administrative coordination, course development support, and facilitation of meetings and community partnerships.

 

 

 

Affiliate Faculty
Advisory Committee
  • Amy Pitts, Community
  • Ayanna Robinson, Community
  • LaNaarai Alli, Community
  • Robin Schafer, Community
  • Tonya Knox, Community
  • Sharifa Peart, Community
  • Tamora Callands, Faculty
  • Liyuan (Leah) Wang, Faculty
  • Jessica Knight, Faculty
  • José F. Cordero, Faculty
  • Jessica C. Smith, Faculty
  • Diane Bales, Faculty
  • Joyce N’Dungu, Phd Student
  • Jada Moss, PhD Student
  • Deborah Shomuyiwa, PhD Student
  • Rebecca Wells, Project Team
  • Melissa Howard, Project Team
  • Lucy Annang Ingram, Project Team
  • Courtney Nutt, Project Team

Health Promotion & Behavior