Name: Deborah H. John

Position: Assistant Professor, College of Public Health and Human Sciences; Faculty, OSU Extension Family and Community Health Program

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

# of years at OSU:

1999-2004 OSU Doctoral Student and Instructor
2009 – present Assistant Professor

Best part of your job: My work focuses on participatory research and education with people in the contexts that they live, work, learn, and recreate to mobilize Extension audiences to achieve healthy people and places. The best part of my job is that it is public health – protecting and improving the health of populations and communities through education, promoting healthy lifestyles, and applied research for disease and injury prevention.  I appreciate and enjoy engaging people and groups whose voices and vision are underrepresented, and providing a venue for shaping community health actions, environments, and policies that are holistic, sustainable, and just.

Something someone might be surprised to know about you: I owned an art gallery in Louisiana and have an extensive art collection. I owned a fitness center in Florida and was a competitive body builder. I dance Zydeco and cook Creole – I like to share both with good friends and family.

Favorite book/movie/album: I’m an avid reader and have many favorite books; no favorite movies; and, without a doubt, Dr. John’s In the Right Place is my favorite album.