Public Health Staff

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 within TCOM: two with the Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health and one with the Department of Internal and Specialty Medicine. After graduating in 2024, she transitioned to a new role as a Project Coordinator for Project FRESH, a federally-supported research project, in the Department of Public 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.

Emma joined UNT Health in 2026 as the Academic Student Navigator in the Office of Student Services & Academics. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and her M.S. in Strategic Communication from Texas Christian University. With a background in research, communications, and ministry, she is a natural go-getter who is passionate about helping students feel prepared to shine.

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 D-FW. 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 Department 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 Department 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 Department 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 Department of Public Health. Fun fact: She started her career in fiscal management at the UNT Health's Department of Public Health in 2005 and glad to have made the full circle, to be back at the college.

Alyssa joined the UNT Health Department of Public Health in 2022 and serves as the Academic Program Manager in the Office of Student & Academic Services. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Arts and Sciences from Lamar University and her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech University. In her role, Alyssa oversees academic advising and manages key academic processes that support graduate students throughout their educational journey. She is passionate about creating a welcoming, student-centered environment where students feel supported and empowered to achieve their academic and professional goals.

I am a recent graduate from UNT Health earning my MPH in Epidemiology in Spring 2026. I earned my BS in Health Sciences from Sam Houston State University in the Fall of 2023. During my time at UNT Health, I was a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) working on the SMART-T Research Study. After graduating, I transitioned into a Project Coordinator role for the same study. My interests lie in the field of infectious disease, disease/infection prevention and global health. My future goals are to assist in reducing disease transmission during potential outbreaks as well as tracking outbreaks as they occur, whether domestically or internationally.

Blake Ross is a Research Coordinator within the Department of Public Health. Working with Dr. Sean Hubbard, he serves as the Training & Technical Assistance Navigator for the HRSA-funded TAKE on HIV and RTTC projects. He earned his Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology from UNT Health Fort Worth. As a part of his MPH practicum, Mr. Ross spent time working with urban farming projects and discount food events in Southeast Fort Worth and gathered extensive data on the food inventory of vendors across Tarrant County. From these experiences, his professional desire is to contribute to innovative and multifaceted approaches to building healthier and more resilient communities.

Elfreda Samman joined UNT Health in 2024 as a Research Scientist in the Department of Public Health. She earned her Doctor of Public Health from Texas A&M University and her Master of Public Health from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. She currently serves as Project Director for the statewide evaluation of the Texas Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) program, coordinating its evaluation activities. Elfreda's research interests include behavioral health, social determinants, and resilience, with a particular focus on women's health and well-being. She is interested in understanding how social and contextual factors shape outcomes, identifying protective factors, and translating research into opportunities for prevention.

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.