Join us in welcoming our new faculty member, Nina Cleveland, to the University of Georgia College of Public Health. Cleveland is the MPH/DrPH Practice Coordinator in the Office of Academic Affairs. She teaches Professionalism in Public Health (PBHL 7460), APE Seminar (PBHL 7560), and Introduction to Public Health (PBHL 3100E).

• Can you tell us about your background?
  • I am a Georgia native and have lived in Athens many years. I earned a nursing diploma and then later, I earned all three college degrees from the University of Georgia. It has been my academic home for a while.
• What brought you to UGA and the College of Public Health?
  • Coming from nursing and social work, focusing on individual physical and mental health, public health was a natural fit. After facing the frustrations of access for the patients I worked with, I became very interested in population health and prevention. The College of Public Health had just been formed and a friend encouraged me to apply to the MPH Health Promotion Concentration. I was in the first class that matriculated. During that time, I learned about preparedness and response and that became my passion. I worked for district public health and CDC before coming back to academia when I took the practice coordinator position at the College of Public Health in 2011. After completing my Ph.D. I took a position with Tulane University as the Assistant Director for Emergency and Security Studies. From there, I came back to Athens and took the Emergency Preparedness and Response Director role at District 10 during the COVID-19 Response. Finally, before coming back to UGA CPH, I was the Department Chair for Health Sciences at Georgia Gwinnett college. I came back to CPH because it has always felt like home, and I have a strong connection with the staff, faculty and students here. I feel I can be of service.
• What do you love about teaching?
  • I love the exchange of experiences and knowledge you have with students, especially graduate students. It helps me to continue to learn.
• What is your research focus, and why are you passionate about it?
  • My interest is in emergency preparedness, especially with creating a culture of preparedness in communities and community resilience. I also have an interest in wastewater-based epidemiology and its integration into public health surveillance.
• How have you partnered with communities to improve public health? Is there service or outreach work you’d like to do in Athens or Georgia?
  • I have worked with Community Councils on Aging, local Emergency Management and EMS, local public health, as well as other campus units such as Office of Emergency Preparedness on three different campuses. The partnership with UGA OEP in 2012 resulted in UGA’s Medical Reserve Corps Unit. I hope to continue to build partnerships and be active in community initiatives.
• What are you looking forward to this fall semester?
  • I am looking forward to finding great placements for our students. I am also looking forward to being back in the classroom.
• A few extra questions:
  • Favorite spot to grab lunch in Athens? Tlaloc or Cali N Tito’s
  • What’s a hobby or activity you love to do outside of work? Hiking, kayaking & gardening
  • One book, TV show or podcast you can’t stop talking about? Podcast- The Huberman Lab