Carla Pezzia

Carla Pezzia is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Dallas. She holds a B.A. from the University of North Texas, an M.P.H. from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research focuses on global health, health disparities, cultural dimensions of mental illness, alcoholism recovery, and Latin America, with a methodological emphasis on applied anthropological research.

Dr. Pezzia is affiliated with the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio through a community assistance research collaboration. Her professional memberships include the Society for Applied Anthropology and the American Anthropology Association. She has held academic leadership roles such as Chair of the Human Rights and Social Justice Committee (2013–2015) and Member-at-Large of the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology Governing Council (2015–2017).

Her recent courses include Conceptual Foundations of Human Sciences, Global Public Health, and Peoples of Latin America, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to health and cultural studies. Her publications span observational studies on healthcare team dynamics, qualitative research on mental health stigma in Guatemala, and investigations into the social determinants of food and economic insecurity.

Dr. Pezzia’s work bridges anthropological theory with practical health interventions, particularly in underserved populations. Her research often addresses how cultural contexts influence healthcare access and recovery processes, with a focus on marginalized communities in Latin America and the U.S.