Diego Rose's research explores the social and economic side of nutrition problems, with a focus on nutrition assistance programs, food security, and the food environment. He has studied disparities in access to healthy food in New Orleans and has developed a framework for how the neighborhood retail food environment influences dietary choices and obesity. His latest research projects examine grass-roots efforts to improve healthy food access in New Orleans and the environmental impacts of U.S. dietary choices.  Dr.

Marsha Piacun is a registered dietitian and the program director of the dietetic internship at Tulane. Her degrees are from the University of Texas in Austin and Loyola University. She began her career at Charity Hospital where she directed the School of Nursing food service and compiled information to begin the dietetic traineeship program.  She then directed the program for three years.  After staying home with her 3 children for several years, she returned to work part time as a dietitian consultant to several healthcare facilities. Over the years, the numbe

Laura Murphy, PhD, is a trans-disciplinary scholar studying intertwined issues of environment, technology, population, and development. Her work experience since 1983 spans the globe: Indonesia, Ecuador, Kenya and New Orleans. Her doctoral studies (UNC-CH City and Regional planning, 1998) explained the determinants of human well-being and deforestation among Amazonian in-migrants.  NSF-funded research (2006-10) explored how mobile phones and kitchen gardens are adaptive community-based responses to the impacts of AIDS in rural Africa.

Carolyn Johnson is a behavioral psychologist.  Her research portfolio has focused on school-based health education and health promotion, specifically relating to diet, physical activity, smoking and sexual behaviors; school personnel wellness programs; internet-based intervention for African American women to prevent unwanted teen pregnancy; and, as director of the Tulane Prevention Research Center, she is involved in community-based prevention/reduction of obesity by addressing the physical and social environmental factors that influence diet and physical activity.  Dr.

Francoise Grossmann’s training combines nursing, cultural anthropology and public health. She specialized in women’s sexual and reproductive health, and maternal and child health. Her geographical focus is Africa although she has also worked in Europe and USA. She has been involved in research projects that examined the behavioral and cultural factors associated with HIV prevention, barriers to access to maternal care and family planning services in USA and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Elisabeth Gleckler had an early career in advertising as an art director. She has served as a Peace Corps volunteer and subsequently in several health communications training projects in Central America. She worked as a communications team member and researcher in HIV, STD, tobacco control, injury prevention, cancer screening, disability, and other topics for the Louisiana Office of Public Health (LA-OPH).

Mark Dal Corso is a pediatrician serving a largely Spanish speaking population through the DePaul Community Health Center in New Orleans which is a Federally Qualified Health Center. At Tulane University he teaches four graduate level courses in the department of Social, Behavioral & Population Sciences; two undergraduate courses in the undergraduate public health (BSPH) program and is the faculty advisor for the MD/MPH rotation in the School of Medicine.

Lorelei Cropley earned her doctorate from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She has been involved in developing health education policy and programs in the areas malaria control, maternal/child health, and water and sanitation for both domestic and international agencies such as CARE International, UNICEF, and various Ministries of Health. She has presented papers and posters at numerous domestic and international conferences and has published in many peer reviewed journals.

Maya Begalieva's educational background includes internal medicine, public administration, and public health. Practice experiences include working as a physician specializing in cancer diagnostics; implementing health programs and relief operations with the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC); working for the United Nations Development Program; and serving as the external affairs officer for The World Bank. Areas of interest include obesity, chronic disease biology and prevention, wellness, and health promotion. Maya Begalieva teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses.