Ranjita Misra

Ranjita Misra, PhD, is a tenured Full Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the West Virginia University School of Public Health, serving as Director of the Public Health Training Center. Her work focuses on chronic disease prevention and management in rural and underserved communities globally, particularly diabetes and hypertension. She employs community participatory approaches, training community health workers and health coaches to address health disparities in Appalachia, Mexico, and India. Dr. Misra earned her PhD in Health Services from Old Dominion University and has secured funding from the NIH, CDC, and PCORI.

Her research emphasizes culturally tailored interventions, including the Diabetes and Hypertension Self-Management Program and India’s Sevak Project. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and received numerous awards, including WVU’s WISH Advanced Career Award (2019) and Mentor Award (2016). Dr. Misra teaches courses on grant writing and public health program management and has mentored over 40 students and junior faculty. She leads national organizations like Eta Sigma Gamma and the South Asian Public Health Association, advocating for health equity and workforce development.