University of Georgia

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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

Directors

Graduate Assistants

Affiliate Facutly
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

Links