Leadership

Our leadership team guides and fosters the research, education and engagement activities of the Community.

Gauri Desai.

Gauri Desai, PhD

Co-Director, Community for Global Health Equity

Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health

Gauri's research focuses on the effects of toxic chemicals on child health, maternal and child health, and nutritional interventions among children.

Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah.

Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah, PhD

Co-Director, Community for Global Health Equity

Assistant Professor, Urban and Regional Planning and Community for Global Health Equity

An interdisciplinary scholar, Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah utilizes multiple theoretical and methodological lenses to interrogate issues related to urban health, public policy, environmental governance, land tenure, and sustainable urbanism in both Global North and South countries. He co-leads the Food Equity team.

Kory Smith.

Kory H. Smith, M Arch, EdD

Founding Co-Director and Co-Lead, Community for Global Health Equity

Chair and Professor, Dept. of Architecture

Kory Smith guides the Community by facilitating its educational activities, and facilitating advisory groups and thematic working groups. 

Pavani K Ram.

Pavani K. Ram, MD

Founding Co-Director and Co-Lead, Community for Global Health Equity

Research Professor, Dept. of Epidemiology and Environmental Health

Li Lin.

Li Lin, PhD

Founding Co-Lead, Community for Global Health Equity

Professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering

Li Lin brings an engineering perspective to his role, cross-coordinating the APEX disciplines and fostering communication across the domains. 

 

Samina Raja.

Samina Raja, PhD

Founding Co-Lead, Community for Global Health Equity

Professor, Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning; Associate Dean for Research and Inclusive Excellence, School of Architecture and Planning; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Health and Health Behavior

Samina Raja guides strategic planning for the Community and co-leads the Food Equity team.  

Alex Judelsohn.

Alexandra Judelsohn

Programs Manager, Community for Global Health Equity

Alex Judelsohn manages the Community for Global Health Equity's programs, office, and communications, helping to build a strong interactive and supportive network at UB and with our partners in Buffalo and around the world.

Kafuli Agbemenu.

Kafuli Agbemenu, PhD, MPH, RN, CTN-A

Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

Kafuli's research areas of interest include adolescent reproductive health and women's health in the African immigrant population. She co-leads the Refugee Health and Wellbeing team. 

Katarzyna Kordas, PhD

Kasia Kordas Photo.

Associate Professor, Dept. of Epidemiology and Environmental Health

Kasia Kordas studies the effects of environmental exposure on children's health. She is the previous co-lead for CGHE and co-leads the Complex Environments team.

Melinda Lemke.

Melinda Lemke, PhD

Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy

Melinda Lemke is an interdisciplinary, qualitative educational policy researcher who examines the politics of education and how public education addresses structural violence to center the well-being and rights of historically underserved students. She co-leads the Refugee Health and Wellbeing team. 

Jordana Maisel.

Jordana Maisel, PhD

Assistant Professor, Urban and Regional Planning

Director of Research, IDEA Center

Jordana's research areas include public transportation, street infrastructure, post occupancy evaluations, and accessible housing policy. She co-leads the Compex Environments team. 

Tia Palermo.

Tia Palermo, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health

Tia's research examines the impacts of social policy on population health. She co-leads the Global Child team.