Enid J. Schatz

Enid J. Schatz is a Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Missouri's College of Health Sciences, where she also serves as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. She holds additional appointments as Core Faculty in the Department of Women's & Gender Studies and as a Faculty Affiliate in the Department of Sociology. Her research focuses on public health problems, particularly the social and structural impacts of HIV on older Africans' lives. She maintains international affiliations as an Honorary Senior Researcher at the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, and as a Research Associate at the Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder.

• Ph.D. in Demography/Sociology from University of Pennsylvania, 2002
• M.A. in Demography from University of Pennsylvania, 1999
• B.A. in Judaic Studies/Women's Studies from Tufts University, 1995

Dr. Schatz is an expert on HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, with particular focus on aging populations affected by the epidemic. Her research examines how older persons living with HIV navigate family dynamics, health, and wellbeing in HIV-endemic communities. She integrates qualitative and quantitative methodologies to study gender, aging & health, and the intersection of infectious diseases with social structures. Her work has significantly improved understanding of the experiences of older persons living with HIV in southern and eastern Africa.

Analysis of Dr. Schatz's recent publications reveals a strong focus on HIV/AIDS among aging populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, with increasing attention to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across multiple contexts. Her work bridges global health, gerontology, and sociological perspectives, with consistent emphasis on the lived experiences of vulnerable populations. Recent publications demonstrate methodological innovation, particularly in qualitative and mixed-methods approaches applied to public health challenges in both resource-limited and developed settings.

• Fulbright Scholar, University of Western Cape, South Africa, 2017
• Wits Research Council Post-Doctoral Fellow – University of the Witwatersrand, 2003-04
• Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellow – University of Colorado, Boulder (resident at Wits), 2002-04
• International engagement award (2022)

Dr. Schatz actively mentors Honors College students in research and engagement projects, and supports applications for post-graduate fellowships. She has secured significant grant funding including an $300,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant for Transforming the University of Missouri for Equity, a $100,000 Fogarty International Center grant for the INSPIRES Program, and a $25,000 Brown University Center for AIDS Research grant. Her current research portfolio addresses intersecting stigma among older people living with HIV in South Africa, implementation research effectiveness, and social justice as a metric of public health success.

Dr. Schatz collaborates with multiple research teams across international boundaries, working with institutions in South Africa, Uganda, and Sierra Leone. She is involved with the Middleton Center for Race, Citizenship & Justice at the University of Missouri and serves as a Faculty Fellow there. Her work with the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity as a coach demonstrates her commitment to academic development and mentorship across institutional contexts.