Sophie Wenzel

Sophie Wenzel is an Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the Center for Public Health Practice and Research at Virginia Tech’s Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She holds a DrPH in Public Health Leadership and has over two decades of experience in public health, including roles with the CDC, the Alaska Division of Public Health, and the Peace Corps. Her work focuses on adolescent health, community-engaged research, and public health evaluation, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Education:

• DrPH, Public Health Leadership, University of Illinois at Chicago (2019)
• MPH, International Health and Population Studies, Emory University (2004)
• BS, Linguistics and Spanish, Georgetown University (1998)

Research Interests: Adolescent health, community-based interventions, maternal and child health, reproductive health, qualitative methods, and public health policy. Her work emphasizes bridging academic research with practical applications in local communities.

Publications Trends: Recent work highlights her focus on public health leadership education, opioid crisis interventions, and community-driven solutions to health disparities. Notable projects include evaluations of diabetes management programs in rural Virginia and contraceptive access in correctional settings.

Awards & Affiliations:

• Recipient of the Bales-Bradford Award for Public Health Leadership (2008)
• Member of the American Public Health Association

Advising & Programs: Oversees the New River Academic Health Department, coordinating grants and partnerships with the Virginia Department of Health. Leads evaluation projects addressing substance use recovery, aging populations, and food security. Collaborates with Cooperative Extension to disseminate evidence-based programs.

Labs & Teams: Center for Public Health Practice and Research, New River Health District Academic Health Department.