Kristin Mmari

Kristin Mmari, DrPH, MA is a Professor and Chair of the Masters Program in Population, Family and Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health. She holds primary departmental affiliation with the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health and is affiliated with the Center for Adolescent Health, Urban Health Institute, William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, and Center for Qualitative Studies in Health and Medicine.

Education:

• DrPH, Tulane University, 2000
• MA, Case Western Reserve University, 1995
• BA, St. Olaf College, 1991

With expertise in medical anthropology and international health, Dr. Mmari specializes in cross-cultural research, qualitative methods, and program evaluation focused on vulnerable adolescent populations. Her research spans two primary areas: assessing contextual factors influencing adolescent health and evaluating adolescent health interventions, using innovative mixed methods approaches including Photovoice methodology and community mapping. Her work addresses critical issues including gender norms, opportunity youth, adolescent risk and protective factors, implementation research, and monitoring and evaluation.

Dr. Mmari's recent publications reveal a strong focus on adolescent health during the pandemic, neighborhood environmental impacts on health disparities, gender norm acquisition in early adolescence, and cross-cultural coping strategies. Her research shows consistent emphasis on qualitative methodologies applied to global adolescent health challenges, with particular attention to vulnerable populations across diverse cultural contexts.

Awards and Recognition:

• Johns Hopkins University, DSA Faculty Appreciation Mentor Award, 2017
• Johns Hopkins University, Golden Apple Teaching Award, 2017
• Johns Hopkins University Teach Excellence Award (2012, 2015, 2017, 2019)
• National Institute of Health, Health Disparities Loan Repayment Award (2009-2011)
• Faculty Grant Award, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, 2005

Dr. Mmari has provided technical assistance to numerous organizations including UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO, and Pathfinder International. She serves as the lead qualitative investigator on the Global Early Adolescent Study (GEAS), a 15-country study exploring how gender norms acquisition shapes early adolescent relationships and health behaviors, and was previously the lead qualitative investigator on the WAVE study examining adolescent health in disadvantaged urban environments.