Laura Linnan

Laura Linnan, ScD, is a Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Director of the Carolina Center for Healthy Work Design and Worker Well-Being at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. She also leads the Total Worker Health® graduate certificate program, focusing on interdisciplinary research to improve worker and workplace health. Her roles include former Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs (2016–2025), overseeing curriculum development, faculty promotions, and student support systems.

Education:

• ScD in Public Health, Harvard University, 1999
• MSEd in Public Health, University of Toledo, 1983
• BS in Health Education, Indiana State University, 1981

Research Interests:

Dr. Linnan’s work centers on multi-level interventions to reduce chronic disease disparities, emphasizing collaboration with communities and employers. Key areas include:
- Workplace health policies and Total Worker Health initiatives
- Occupational safety and health for diverse sectors (e.g., healthcare, construction)
- Community-based participatory research in childcare, schools, and faith-based organizations
- Innovative methods for process and outcome evaluations in public health interventions

Key Contributions:

• Developed the Workplace Health in America Survey (2017), analyzing employer health program prevalence
• Secured NIOSH funding for the Carolina Center for Healthy Work Design (2020)
• Co-edited Process Evaluation for Public Health Intervention and Research (2002)

Awards & Recognition:

• 2019 AJHP Editor-in-Chief Paper of the Year ("Results of the Workplace Health in America Survey")
• Paper of the Year Award for Workplace Health Research (2020)

Labs/Teams:

Director of the Carolina Center for Healthy Work Design and Worker Well-Being, collaborating with employers, researchers, and policymakers to design evidence-based interventions for healthcare workers, firefighters, and other high-risk groups.