Roberta Riportella

Roberta Riportella, PhD (she/her/hers), is a Professor and Extension Specialist at Oregon State University (OSU), affiliated with the School of Nutrition and Public Health and the Health Management and Policy department. She holds roles in the OSU Extension Service and the Extension Family and Community Health Program. Previously, she served as the Kansas Health Foundation Professor at Kansas State University and is Professor Emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on disparities in access to healthcare and health outcomes linked to social standing. She currently leads national initiatives through Extension’s Health and Wellness Committee to improve community health. Roberta has over 30 years of experience in health policy analysis and collaboration with state agencies, nonprofits, and healthcare providers. She is accepting new MPH students but not new PhD students. Contact: Ballard Extension Hall 125, Corvallis, OR.

• Education: PhD in Sociology/Demography (not explicitly stated but inferred from title).

Her work emphasizes sociological and demographic approaches to health equity, with a focus on translating research into actionable community strategies. She collaborates nationally to address systemic barriers in healthcare access. Her recent efforts include enhancing Latinx vaccine confidence and supporting community health programs.

Awards: None explicitly listed in the text.

Advising/Grants: Accepts MPH students; no specific grants mentioned but engaged in collaborative projects with national and state organizations. Labs/Teams: Active in OSU Extension’s Health and Wellness initiatives and the Family and Community Health Program.