Nikhil A. Ahuja

naahuja@memphis.edu

Nikhil Ahuja is a Doctoral student in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health. Nikhil obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degree in Dentistry from India. He has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Dentistry in Daman, India and worked for Salaam Bombay Foundation as a Consultant Researcher in India. Nikhil has experience of working in tobacco control, substance abuse, oral diseases and oral cancer. His current research interests include tobacco use epidemiology, prevention and treatment; other substance abuse; oral cancer screening and prevention; community-based behavioral interventions; and mixed methods research.

Weiyu (Vivian) Chen, MPH

wchen7@memphis.edu

Weiyu (Vivian) Chen is a graduate student and researcher at the University of Memphis, TN. Originally from Shenzhen, China, Vivian moved to the United States to pursue a career in research in the field of Public Health. Vivian's concentration is Social and Behavior Sciences, and her advisor is Dr. Kenneth Ward. After obtaining her Master of Public Health from Georgia State University, Vivian is now dedicating her research efforts to the understanding of the epidemiological factors behind effective tobacco control and smoking cessation interventions. She has obtained a student presentation award from the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo. 

Vivian has co-authored articles regarding waterpipe and cigarette use, as well as treatment delivery among lung cancer patients.

Cheri Kilmurray, MPH, CHES

901.678.1458 | cklmrray@memphis.edu

Cheri Kilmurray is a student in the Social and Behavioral Sciences doctoral program. She is a full-time instructor at the University of Memphis in the School of Health Studies where she teaches a variety of undergraduate health science courses. She received a BS in nutritional science from Rutgers University, and an MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Boston University. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and has worked in several areas of public health practice, including teen pregnancy prevention and tobacco cessation. Her research interests are in the area of tobacco control, cessation, and prevention.

Emily Rose N. San Diego, M.A.

nsndiego@memphis.edu

Emily earned her B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Her research interests include psychosocial and behavioral determinants of health and health outcomes, health promotion, and chronic disease prevention and management in the context of Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Her current projects examine the role of the faith-based community in health promotion through the use of community-based participatory research approaches.

Nate West, MS

ntwest@memphis.edu

Nate is a first-year doctoral student in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division. He received a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a Specialization in Exercise and Sport Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Nate is currently working with Dr. Harmon on various projects relating to clergy and church health. Nate's personal research interests include physical and mental health among clergy and seminarians

Sara Zellers, MS, RDN, LDN

scantrll@memphis.edu

Sara is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Social and Behavioral Sciences program where she is working in community based participatory research focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention and understanding the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Sara is also interested, and has done work, in the field of nutritional needs of the transgender community. Sara completed her MS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Memphis in 2018 and is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Before starting her Ph.D. studies, Sara worked as an acute care dietitian at a local hospital and taught nutrition courses at a local college.