Dr. Janella Melius
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Janella MeliusAssistant Professor of Social Work Office: West Modular Rm. 131 |
Educational History
Norfolk State University, VA. 2007, PhD. Social Work
University of Akron, Ohio, 1998, Masters of Social Work
University of the Virgin Islands, 1996 Bachelor of Social Work
Profile
Dr. Janella Melius is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Work. Dr. Melius area of research focuses on examining the ecological risk, and protective processes influencing health related behaviors among underrepresented populations who are exposed to adversities, and is specifically aimed at two distinct tracks:(1) examining the effects of social determinants on health disparities (e.g. overweight/obesity) and its association with environmental, political, structural and epigenetic factors on the health risk behaviors of underrepresented groups across their life span, and (2) formulating interventions as a translational researcher in reducing health risk behaviors associated with overweight/obesity outcomes among underrepresented populations utilizing the social work profession varying perspectives on community action approaches. Dr. Melius is a Scholar of the Dr. Alfred M. Haynes Institute for Social Equity, Meharry Medical College, a member of the African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network, a Fellow, of the Emerging Scholars Interdisciplinary Network Summer Program in Applied Multi-Ethnic Research at Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan, National Association of Social Workers, and a member of the Council on Social Work Education.
Teaching Areas
- Social Work Research
- Ethics, Child Welfare
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment
