Elizabeth Tolley

Elizabeth Tolley, PhD, is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She is a senior behavioral scientist and director of a research division at FHI 360, with over 25 years of experience in designing client/user-centered research, particularly within clinical trials and program settings. Her work focuses on understanding how social, sexual, and cultural contexts influence health behaviors.

Since 2015, she has led a team of 20-25 researchers (masters’ and PhD-level) in investigator-led and intramural research, as well as technical assistance for programs. She is the first author of a textbook on Qualitative Methods in Public Health and employs mixed-methods approaches, emphasizing mentoring emerging researchers.

Her affiliations include FHI 360 and the Gillings School, where she contributes to academic and applied public health initiatives. She is committed to advancing methodologies that bridge research and practice in global health settings.