Traci Hayes

Dr. Traci Hayes serves as an Assistant Professor of Public Health at the University of Southern Mississippi, bringing extensive experience as an award-winning communications practitioner specializing in health marketing and outreach programs for academic, governmental, and non-profit sectors.

Education:

• DrPH, Jackson State University (2018)
• MS, Jackson State University (2012)
• BS, Jackson State University (1996)

Her research centers on integrative health and health communications, with a specialized focus on developing theory-driven, community-based behavior change interventions for minority populations. She actively addresses physical activity promotion, yoga implementation, stress and weight management strategies, and coronavirus impact assessment through culturally responsive frameworks like the Multi-Theory Model (MTM). Her expertise spans health promotion, community engagement, and rigorous program evaluation methodologies.

Analysis of her 2020 publications reveals consistent emphasis on minority health disparities, with significant contributions to community research training efficacy, behavioral intervention frameworks, and yoga practice adoption. These works collectively advance public health through community-engaged scholarship and practical evaluation metrics.

Dr. Hayes teaches core public health courses including Introduction to Healthcare Systems (DPH 428), Healthcare Finance Management (DPH 457), Communication in Public Health (DPH 485), Rural Health (DPH 606), Measurement and Evaluation (DPH 612), and Healthcare Marketing (DPH 647).