CPH Staff Council

Esme earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021. In 2022, Esme joined UNT Health as a graduate student in the Master of Public Health program, specializing in Biostatistics, and was a recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship. She worked as a graduate research assistant, participating in three grant-funded initiatives: two with the UNT Health Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health and one with the Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. After graduating in 2024, she transitioned to a new role as a Project Coordinator for Project FRESH, a federally-supported research project, in the UNT Health Department of Population and Community Health. Esme is interested in reproducible research that informs public health strategies for vulnerable populations.

Katie graduated from UNT in 2022 with a BA in Digital and Print Journalism. She joined UNT Health in 2024 as Student Service Associate because of her love for higher education and passion for lifelong learning. Her role at UNT Health includes but is not limited to facilitating events for faculty and students, assisting in new student orientation, managing social media posting schedules, and conducting a newsletter for alumni and current students to enjoy. Katie is passionate about people and takes pride in meeting new faces and fostering closer relationships.

Sophia L. Ellis joined UNT Health in February 2025 as a Program, bringing over 21 years of experience in project management, strategic planning, and operational efficiency. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Phoenix in 2011. She served as a Management and Program Analyst at the IRS, where she optimized workflows and collaborated with leadership on key initiatives. Prior to that, she managed large-scale projects in the U.S. Army serving an 18-year enlistment, focusing on process improvement and team development. A Certified Scrum Master, she specializes in Agile methodologies, business operations, and stakeholder engagement. Sophia holds an MBA in Project Management and is passionate about driving innovation in organizational strategy.

Since 2020, Allie has been part of the UNT Health family in a plethora of roles: a Master of Public Health (MPH) student, a graduate assistant for the Office of Academic Services, a Healthy Start intern, and now a public health project coordinator. She previously coordinated two MD Anderson-funded initiatives related to increasing HPV vaccination among adolescents and is now coordinating a type II diabetes prevention program among the South Asian community in DFW. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2020 (go runners!) and her MPH with a concentration in maternal and child health from UNT Health in 2022.

Dahlia Gomez joined UNT Health in 2023 as a Post-Award Department Research Administrator in the Office of Sponsored Programs, managing grants for the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacotherapy Departments, as well as the North Texas Eye Research Institute. In September 2024, she was also assigned to support the College of Public Health, overseeing post-award activities for both departments. Prior to her work in research administration, Gomez spent 14 years in public safety as a communications training officer, tactical dispatcher for the SWAT team, and member of the Peer Support Team. She brings a unique blend of precision, crisis management, and operational expertise to her role and continues to grow professionally through organizations like NCURA.

Chelsea Lancaster joined UNT Health in 2016 as a member of student affairs and transitioned to the College of Public Health in 2019. She has over ten years of experience focused on student engagement, program development, and student success. With a passion for higher education she is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment that ensures the academic and personal growth of all students.

Annie Mathew joined UNT Health in 2024 as a Senior Academic and Business Director in the College of Public Health. She comes with extensive experience in departmental administration, in-depth knowledge of developing and managing departmental budget and federal grants within academic, research and healthcare environments. She is an UNT alumna with masters in business administration degree in healthcare service management. Within her role, she is committed to advancing financial sustainability for the College of Public Health. Fun fact: She started her career in fiscal management at the UNTHSC-SPH (previously “School of Public Health”) in 2005 and glad to have made the full circle, to be back at the college.

Maya joined UNT Health in 2024 as a Senior Communications Specialist before transitioning to the College of Public Health for the role of Communications Manager. Prior to UNT Health, she worked in the Career Center at UNT Denton for 2 years following her graduation there with her master’s in higher education. She also holds a bachelor’s in communications from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Maya leads special projects, coordinates marketing efforts, produces press releases, and manages all social media to enhance the college’s visibility.

Edna started her journey at UNT Health in 2021 as a student and recently earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Sciences – Epidemiology in July 2025. She works with Dr. Kai Zhang as a Postdoctoral Research Associate of environmental epidemiology. Edna’s research focuses on populations at high risk for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD). She is currently working on assessing health impacts of environmental exposures (i.e. green space infrastructures) on mental and physical well-being on this demographic. Her previous work has examined gene-environment interactions, cognitive function, and health disparities through the Health and Aging Brain Study – Health Disparities (HABS-HD). When she’s not diving into data, you’ll find Edna practicing what she researches by hitting the gym for strength training and cardio 3-4 times a week.

Alyssa received her undergraduate degree from Lamar University and her Masters of Education in Higher Education from Texas Tech University. She is dedicated to helping admitted College of Public Health students navigate the enrollment process and ensuring they are prepared for their first semester of courses.

Steven Sutton joined UNT Health in 2022 in the Division of Finance and transitioned to the College of Public Health in 2024, where he serves as the Executive Assistant to the chair of Health Administration & Health Policy. Before joining UNT Health, he worked at UNT Dallas in the Division of Student Affairs from 2019-2022. He holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Education from the University of North Texas.

Noelle joined UNT Health in 2022 and is a Research Assistant II for Dr. Eun-Young Mun. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Texas and is currently working on a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Prior to this role, she worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant for the Teen Stress and Alcohol (St.A.R.) Laboratory at the University of North Texas on an NIAAA-funded study. Currently, she is dedicated to providing support for Dr. Mun’s research projects through collaborating with research teams and multi-level stakeholders to identify factors and barriers for implementation in campus settings, coordinating participant recruitment and activities, managing project payments, and distributing a monthly newsletter for project partners. Through her experiences at UNT Health, Noelle has cultivated a passion for improving public health outcomes through research.

Aishatu Yusuf joined UNT Health as a Research Scientist in 2024. She earned her DrPH from Texas A&M University, an MPH from Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom, and an M.B.B.S from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. She currently evaluates the Texas Rape Prevention & Education (RPE) Project and has recently joined the team coordinating the Take on HIV for health professions program. Before transitioning to public health practice and research, Aishatu was a physician at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Aishatu’s research expertise is in Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and Infectious Diseases with an interest in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). She is also interested in global health and intimate partner violence.