Vanessa Amankwaa Mph

Vanessa Amankwaa, MPH has a diverse range of work experience in public health and research. Vanessa currently works as a Research Associate in Health Learning, Translation, and Quality Measurement at the American Institutes for Research. Prior to this, they served as a Food-Inspired Resilience & Equity Intern at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, where they collaborated on equitable local food system initiatives.

Vanessa also worked at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, first as a Research Consultant for the WHO Collaborating Center, where they coded and analyzed focus group data and synthesized community health assessment findings. Vanessa later served as a Graduate Research Assistant, conducting interviews, developing evidence-based messaging, and creating educational materials related to COVID-19.

Before joining UNC, Vanessa gained experience at Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington as a Practicum Survey Designer and Programmer, where they administered surveys and developed a recruitment process guide. Additionally, they worked as a Research Assistant at the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University, analyzing data, conducting interviews and focus groups, and evaluating adolescent sexual health programming.

Vanessa's earlier experience at Cornell University included roles as a Student Administrative Assistant at Student Disability Services, a Mental Health Worker in the Department of Human Development, an Experiential Learning Participant in the Department of Global Health, and a Research Assistant in the Department of Entomology. In these positions, they gained skills in therapy, policy analysis, community collaboration, and lab techniques.

Overall, Vanessa Amankwaa's work experience demonstrates their expertise in public health research, data analysis, community engagement, and program development.

Vanessa Amankwaa, MPH, completed their Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Development Sociology at Cornell University from 2015 to 2018. Prior to that, they attended Quinnipiac University in 2014 and 2015, where they studied Sociology. Most recently, Vanessa pursued a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with a focus on Health Equity, Social Justice, and Human Rights at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health from 2020 to 2022.