CUNY SPH is delighted to present our fall 2025 doctoral cohort. This talented group represents a range of dynamic backgrounds and experiences, united by a shared commitment to advancing public health. Please join us in extending a warm welcome as they embark on this new academic journey.

PhD in Epidemiology:

Mark “Alex” Ball, BS, MPH, (he/him/his) is a recent graduate from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Master of Public Health program. Alex trained in epidemiology, where he led and supported numerous research projects, in areas such as occupational epidemiology, hepatitis C Medicaid policy research, and survey instrumentation. Throughout his program, he also worked with the only syringe service program in Arkansas, a harm reduction organization named Central Arkansas Harm Reduction. Alex received funding from a nationally recognized student activist organization, the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund, to support his advocacy and direct service work for people who use drugs and others who are affected by the War on Drugs in a historically disadvantaged area of Arkansas. His involvement with CAHR evolved to include NIH-funded research activities, where he and his UAMS research team are developing and testing the first survey to measure patient-reported outcomes for medications to treat methamphetamine use disorder – which may be an ideal alternative to the current FDA mandate requiring treatments to result in methamphetamine abstinence. As a PhD student at CUNY SPH, Alex is eager to train with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and injection drug use experts to develop real-world solutions to complex disease etiologies and treatment systems. While he is passionate about the translation of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C research, Alex is also interested in advancing causal inference methods to address confounding and selection bias in observational research, particularly those from time-varying exposure data and loss to follow.

Dóra Illei, MSc, is a research epidemiologist at RTI International and supports a variety of interdisciplinary study teams conducting both infectious disease and non-communicable disease research. She completed her master’s in control of infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2020. Prior to her role at RTI, she worked in USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDS supporting the development of new biomedical tools for HIV prevention. In her role as an epidemiologist, she facilitates the development of common data elements for two coordination centers, which aim to improve harm reduction and HIV prevention among individuals with substance use disorder. Additionally, she is part of a team working with the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research to conduct surveillance activities on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 and varicella-zoster virus vaccines. As a PhD candidate at CUNY SPH, she plans to focus on infectious disease epidemiology and is interested in zoonotic and vector-borne pathogens. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking for friends, playing tennis, and exploring bookstores around the city.

Naama Kipperman, MPH, is an infectious disease epidemiologist with work experience across the public and private sector. After completion of her MPH in epidemiology at Columbia in the fateful spring of 2020, she worked for the New Jersey and New York City departments of health in communicable disease surveillance and outbreak response. She has supported local outbreak investigations and state-level vaccine campaigns and has enjoyed public health work at these different granularities. Currently, she is an analyst on the Epidemiology and Modeling team at Ginkgo Biosecurity, where she conducts open-source intelligence on global disease threats and analyzes wastewater surveillance data from Ginkgo’s international pathogen monitoring programs. Her research interests include the long-term effects of viral infections, variability in infection outcomes, and vaccine effectiveness. She is especially motivated by the kinds of questions that arise during outbreaks and is really excited to expand her analytical knowledge base as a PhD student at CUNY SPH. She is happiest when she is outside and staying active in the form of long podcast walks, hiking, rock climbing, or yoga.

Joey M. Platt (she/her) is a senior project officer at ICAP at Columbia University with eight years of research experience coordinating studies on infectious disease epidemiology, treatment, and prevention. Her primary interests are in HIV and substance use harm reduction strategies, to which she has both personal and early-career ties. One of her most formative research experiences has been working alongside community members to offer PrEP at mobile syringe exchange sites in New York City and then in methadone clinics with people living with HIV. Since then, she has served as co-investigator for community survey studies on mpox virus seroprevalence and the impact of COVID-19 among the LGBTQ+ community in New York City. As an upcoming PhD candidate in epidemiology at CUNY SPH, Joey is looking forward to drawing upon this experience to explore the effectiveness of innovative, yet unevaluated, harm reduction interventions for HIV and substance use as well as new ways to deliver proven strategies (e.g. HIV PrEP) to people who use drugs. Her inspirations for her PhD pursuit are her family, syringe exchange pioneers such as Joyce Rivera, and peer health navigators and outreach workers.

Divya Prasad, MPH, is a public health practitioner dedicated to advancing health equity through research and evaluation. She currently works as the data for equity manager at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she leads efforts to embed equitable practices throughout the data life cycle. Her background spans over a decade of research and evaluation, including national work in public health systems and services research, and NYC-based research and surveillance in chronic disease prevention and food security. Divya holds an MPH degree from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and as a PhD student at CUNY SPH, looks forward to learning how to integrate advanced epidemiological skills and social determinants of health. In her free time, Divya enjoys visiting museums, volunteering with Astoria Mutual Aid, and practicing yoga.

Bhavani Ramesh, BS, MPH, graduated with a bachelor’s in neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh, and after graduating worked as a lab technician at Columbia University. She then continued her education at New York University where she received an MPH in Community and International Health. While at NYU she worked as a research assistant on several different smoking cessation studies, one involving patients living with HIV. Since then, for the past decade, she has been working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a clinical research manager where she oversees all research initiatives for the gynecologic and orthopedic surgery services. As a PhD student at CUNY SPH, she is interested in focusing on infectious diseases, outbreak preparedness, and preventive methods. In her spare time, she enjoys learning salsa and bachata dancing.

PhD in Environmental and Planetary Health Sciences

Simone Greenberg, MPH, is a senior health policy associate at the MITRE Corporation, where she leads regulatory strategy and rule writing for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), with a focus on Medicare quality reporting and incentive programs in outpatient settings. She has also supported policy and evaluation work for several federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Simone holds an MPH from Columbia University and a BA in health policy from the University of Rochester. Her research interests include workforce protections, the evolving role of artificial intelligence in health and exploring quantitative methods. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, practicing yoga, and cooking.

Mina Kwon is an enthusiastic public health advocate committed to addressing health disparities through research, policy, and community engagement. With a bachelor’s degree in geography at King’s College London and furthered at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Mina brings an international and interdisciplinary perspective to the study of social determinants of health. Her research focuses on how neighborhood-level factors—such as overcrowded housing, food accessibility, and the built environment—influence chronic disease and adolescent health outcomes. Mina is particularly interested in leveraging spatial analysis and large-scale public datasets to uncover patterns of structural inequity and guide evidence-based solutions. Grounded in a strong belief that public health is both a science and a social mission, Mina is passionate about transforming data into meaningful interventions. She is driven by a vision of healthier, more equitable communities and is eager to contribute to a future where health justice is not an ideal, but a reality.

Emanuel Mejia, MS, MPH, is a passionate public health professional and proud bilingual Latino committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards and brings enthusiasm, humility, and purpose to his work in public health and academic service. Emanuel holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hunter College, a master’s in translational medicine from the City College of New York, and an MPH in epidemiology and biostatistics from CUNY SPH. His public health journey began during his master’s studies, when he contributed to a team addressing the opioid crisis in New York City. That experience ignited his passion for research, data-driven evidence-based solutions, and serving vulnerable populations facing complex health challenges. Emanuel’s professional experience spans education, international collaboration, and applied research. He has taught undergraduate medical students at the CUNY School of Medicine, mentored individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds, and advised both local and global health initiatives. As a CEESP fellow, he conducted prostate cancer mortality research in Colombia and later served as a research coordinator in Bangladesh, where he supported the inauguration of a Regional Consortium in Population Health Informatics across 11 countries in South and Southeast Asia. Outside of his academic work, Emanuel enjoys traveling, soccer, history, and engaging with data and statistics.

Kimberly Weller (she/her) is passionate about exploring the intersection of environmental factors and human health, with a focus on reducing harmful exposures in order to prevent chronic diseases. She brings over a decade of experience in clinical research where she has led clinical trials in oncology and psychiatric research within the pharmaceutical industry and at hospitals. Kimberly holds a Master of Science in Public Health, with a certificate in Environmental and Occupational Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Delaware. Kimberly looks forward to working toward improving health outcomes as a PhD student. Outside of her academic and professional goals, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, and going on adventures with friends.

PhD in Community Health and Health Policy

Kira Argenio, MPH, (she/her) is a dedicated public health professional and experienced data scientist with a passion for research that aims to understand and address health disparities among youth and LGBTQ+ communities. She previously earned a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology and biostatistics from CUNY SPH and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. John’s University. Kira currently serves as a research scientist in the Office of School Health at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene where she regularly applies her analytic expertise to support data systems integration, record linkage, and school health surveillance of a wide range of child and adolescent health outcomes, including obesity, asthma, and mental health, and immunization. As an MPH candidate, Kira interned at the Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health where she contributed to research examining the physical, mental, and sexual health impact of COVID-19 on transmasculine individuals and the relationships between sexual identity, labeling, and behavior among sexual minority men. Kira also has previous experience in research grants administration and has participated in several scientific communication efforts aiming to promote layperson knowledge of suicide risk factors and related mental health conditions. Outside of work, Kira loves exploring local parks with her wife and their dogs. 

Lynn Ellis, MPH (she/her) is a public health practitioner and community organizer dedicated to advancing health equity through substance use prevention, harm reduction, and policy research. She holds a Master of Public Health in health promotion and health education from California State University, San Marcos, and a BS in molecular, cell, and developmental biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Lynn’s public health journey began on the frontlines as an EMT at a detox and residential facility, later transitioning into case management, where she supported adults navigating recovery from co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. She has worked closely with individuals and families across all age groups affected by addiction, coordinating care, securing basic needs, and advocating within systems that often stigmatize vulnerable populations. Before joining CUNY SPH, Lynn served as a prevention specialist at CARE of Southeastern Michigan, supporting two community coalitions and implementing school- and community-based prevention programs. Her work focused on reducing youth access to harmful substances and strengthening cross-sector partnerships to address social determinants of health. Her research interests include youth substance use disparities, emerging drug trends, and the impact of state-level policies on tobacco and substance use outcomes. As a first-generation PhD student with immigrant roots, Lynn is passionate about producing actionable research that supports nonprofits and direct service organizations in implementing sustainable, evidence-based practices. Outside of academics, Lynn enjoys playing video games, spending time with her puppy, and listening to history podcasts.

Deborah Hoege, MPH, has more than a decade of experience in strategic project management and the implementation of global health programs at both the community and headquarters levels. Her primary focus has been supporting the rollout of complex HIV programs in East and Southern Africa, as well as Central America. Hoege’s career in global health began at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where she supported the interagency rollout of President Obama’s Global Health Initiative (GHI) across 42 countries. Since then, she managed a SAFE Water project randomized controlled trial in western Uganda; served as country lead for Eswatini, Lesotho, and Uganda at the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) headquarters; and collaborated with key stakeholders at partner organizations, district-level health officials, and ministries of health implementing HIV programs in those three countries to complete a human resources for health inventory as part of the USAID HRH2030 activity. Most recently, she provided critical project management support for the multi-million-dollar HIV-1 recency testing project at ICAP at Columbia University, which oversaw the establishment of recent infection surveillance systems across 13 countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Central America. Hoege holds a MPH degree from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, as well as a BA in international relations from Boston University.

Chelsea Pickett, MPH, is a dedicated harm reductionist and public health evaluator. She serves as a program evaluator and analyst at Harlem United, where she leads evaluation and quality improvement initiatives across harm reduction programs. Her work focuses on substance use, health equity, and participatory methods that center lived experience. Chelsea is committed to using research as a tool for advocacy, policy change, and dismantling stigma. Chelsea earned her MPH from the University of Southern Maine. Chelsea is a harm reductionist for humans AND cats! She has been supporting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) rescue efforts with the non-profit North Brooklyn Cats for over six years and has fostered over 75 cats and kittens.

Emma Pliskin, MPH, (she/her) joins the Community Health and Health Policy program with a specialization in demography. Her research interests include structural and systemic barriers to sexual and reproductive healthcare; sexuality, LGBTQ health needs, and LGBTQ health disparities; sexual agency, empowerment, and liberation; and reproductive justice, youth-centered, community-based, and anti-oppression-oriented interventions. Emma holds a BA from NYU in sociocultural anthropology and public health, and an MPH in community health and social sciences from CUNY SPH. Her master’s thesis used qualitative data to explore prior experiences with post-exposure prophylaxis among cisgender men and transgender men and women who have sex with men. She currently works as a research scientist at Child Trends, where she leads evaluations of sexual education programs and research studies on the quality and impact of family planning service delivery. Prior to Child Trends, she worked at the Guttmacher Institute, where she conducted quantitative research on structural barriers to contraception, the impacts of policy changes on method use and satisfaction, and patient-centered contraceptive care. In her free time, she enjoys doing crafts and DIY projects, riding her bike, taking care of her dog, and working with local community-based and grassroots movements!

Christina Williams, MSc, (she/her) is interested in researching how the structural conditions of domestic work shape the long-term mental health of Caribbean immigrant women and their children, with the aim of advancing justice and visibility for care workers and their families. A first-generation Jamaican-American, Christina brings a decolonization and feminist lens to her evaluation and research work. Currently, Christina is the evaluation lead at Global Fund for Women where she focuses on strengthening learning and evaluation capacity and building the evidence base for increased direct investment in local feminist organizations globally. She previously worked on activities in humanitarian and development monitoring, evaluation, and research in gender, health, and human rights technical areas. Christina began her career at Save the Children, where she was a program associate and then a Guyer research fellow working in the Kenya office conducting a qualitative study on gender norms and adolescent saving habits. She received an MSc in demography and health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a BA in Anthropology and International Affairs from the George Washington University. Her main hobbies include exploring cities on foot or by cycling, baking, painting, attending concerts, and creating the perfect work-from-home playlist.

Ingrid Williams, MPH, is a dedicated public health professional with a strong commitment to service and health promotion and is the daughter of Caribbean immigrant parents. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and her Master of Public Health from the CUNY SPH. Over the past six years, she has worked as both a phlebotomist and program manager at One Medical, where she has played a key role in collaborative efforts to advance menopause care. Her research interests center on sexual and reproductive health, with a particular focus on improving patient-provider interactions around sexual assault disclosures and ensuring equitable care for underserved populations affected by sexual violence. Ingrid is passionate about promoting women’s health and advocating for reproductive rights. In her free time, she likes to knit, go on long walks and spend time with her family.