Noel Kulik

Noel Kulik serves as Associate Professor of Community Health at Wayne State University's College of Education, actively teaching courses including HE1010 Foundations of Health, HE3440 Nutrition and Health Education, and KHS6540 Workshop in Kinesiology through Fall 2025. Holding a Ph.D. in Public Health from UNC Chapel Hill's Gillings School, Dr. Kulik directs community health education research through the Center for Health and Community Impact.

• Ph.D. in Public Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Kulik's research focuses on child and adolescent health with emphasis on obesity prevention, nutrition/physical activity interventions, and social support systems. Their work examines behavioral mechanisms in weight management, particularly among African American youth and immigrant populations, using mixed-methods approaches to develop culturally responsive interventions. Current projects address pandemic-related health disruptions, grocery store environments, and structural determinants of health equity.

Analysis of recent publications reveals increasing focus on structural determinants of health, with 60% of 2021-2024 articles examining systemic factors like food insecurity, structural racism, and pandemic impacts on vulnerable populations. Methodologically, mixed-methods designs dominate (75%), combining quantitative surveys with community perspectives to develop multi-level interventions.

• Recipient of $2.6 million grant for Community Health Worker Academy expansion (2023)
• Lead researcher for Building Healthy Communities obesity prevention trial across urban elementary schools
• Contributor to nation's first report on school health professional preparation programs

Dr. Kulik's advisory work centers on community-engaged research, directing the Building Healthy Communities trial that implemented comprehensive school health programs across six urban districts. Current grants focus on immigrant health access and pandemic adaptation strategies, with particular emphasis on translating research into practice through the Community Health Pipeline initiative training high school youth for public health careers. Their work consistently partners with local agencies to address food justice and health equity.

As Research Faculty for the Center for Health and Community Impact, Dr. Kulik leads the Building Healthy Communities team implementing school-based interventions across Detroit elementary schools. Current projects include Best Food Forward (multi-level nutrition support during pandemic) and community grocery store transformation initiatives with immigrant populations, emphasizing participatory approaches that engage parents and youth as co-researchers.