Tess Johnson
Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health
I am an Instructional Assistant Professor and CEPH Coordinator in the Department of Public Health.
Research Interests
Youth Participatory Action Research for understanding public health needs of adolescents, Utilizing yoga and mindfulness with youth for mental health wellness, engaging teachers and students in gardening and nutrition programs
Biography
Tess Johnson earned her BA in Community Development from Portland State University, an MS and in Health Promotion from the University of Mississippi. She recently completing her PhD in Health and Kinesiology from the University of Mississippi with her dissertation work emphasizing Health Behavior through youth Participatory Action Research. Since joining the university in 2017, Tess has contributed in various roles, including serving as a yoga and mindfulness teacher at the Willie Price Lab School, a Program Manager in the School of Education, and a Research Associate in the Department of Pharmacy Administration. She is now an Instructional Assistant Professor in Public Health. Tess’s academic research focuses on community health initiatives, particularly in youth mental health and holistic health approaches. She is passionate about empowering young people to develop practical skills for improving their mental and physical well-being. Tess is part of Project SCORE, an NIH SEPA grant initiative that uses Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to teach health science to high school students. Outside of her professional work, Tess enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending quality time with her family.
Education
B.S. Community & Leadership Development, (2003)
M.S. Health Promotion, The University of Mississippi (2020)