Nicolette Teufel-Shone

Nicolette Teufel-Shone is a Professor in the Department of Health Sciences within the College of Health and Human Services at Northern Arizona University (NAU). She serves as Associate Director of the Center for Health Equity Research (CHER), where she leads community-engaged research focused on American Indian, Navajo, and Alaska Native populations. Her work emphasizes health equity, chronic disease prevention, and culturally grounded interventions.

• Professor, Department of Health Sciences, NAU
• Associate Director, Center for Health Equity Research (CHER)
• Principal and Co-Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded projects including SHERC and the Center for American Indian Resilience

Her research interests center on public health disparities among Indigenous communities, with a focus on diabetes prevention, vaccine hesitancy, maternal-child health, food security, and resilience. She employs community-based participatory research (CBPR) methodologies to ensure cultural relevance and community ownership. Her work integrates traditional knowledge systems with public health practice, particularly through the role of Community Health Representatives.

The recent scholarly output of Dr. Teufel-Shone reflects a strong commitment to health equity and community engagement. Her publications from 2020–2025 highlight research on vaccine outreach, student health messengers, traditional knowledge in pandemic response, and multisectoral approaches to rural health. These works span public health, cultural resilience, and community-based intervention design, often co-authored with tribal partners and early-career researchers.

Dr. Teufel-Shone has been involved in significant research grants and collaborative networks, including the Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC). She mentors students and fosters inter-institutional partnerships to build research capacity in underserved communities. While specific advisees are not listed in the provided text, her leadership in training undergraduate health messengers and community researchers indicates a strong commitment to education and workforce development.

She contributes to public health through datasets on Navajo mother-daughter communication and rural health equity leadership. Her work has been referenced in policy sources and widely read in academic circles. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided content.

Dr. Teufel-Shone leads and contributes to several key research labs and teams, including:

• Center for Health Equity Research (CHER)
• Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC)
• Center for American Indian Resilience
• Navajo NARCH Partnership
• Health Resilience Among American Indians in Arizona