Carissa (she/her) is the Digital Platform Coordinator at the Institute on Digital Health and Innovation. Born and raised in rural North Carolina, Carissa received her Bachelor’s in Public Health Education with a Concentration in Community Health Education from UNC-Greensboro in 2016 and her Master of Public Health in 2018, also from UNC-Greensboro. Upon graduation, she began her career as an Outreach Worker by providing HIV/Hep C and Syphilis rapid testing throughout Rockingham, Alamance, and Durham counties. While working throughout Durham Co. she specifically worked with persons with mental health concerns and/or co-occurring substance use. As a Certified Health Coach, she utilizes health coaching methods to perform health education counseling sessions. HIV/STD prevention, health equity amongst disadvantaged populations, teenage pregnancy prevention, mHealth, and lack of mental health resources are a few of Carissa’s Public Health interests. She is also passionate about assisting first-generation college students with their matriculation throughout higher education.

In her free time she enjoys interior design, boxing, eating any type of taco, and attending music festivals!