Faculty Spotlight

Welcome to our new faculty. They bring talent and skill to the college and are incredible additions to our Stempel College family.

Dr. Olatokunbo Osibogun is an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Stempel College. After pursuing her medical degree in Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria, she went to the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to obtain a MPH. In 2019, she obtained her Ph.D. in public health from FIU and completed a NIDA T32 postdoctoral fellowship at FIU prior to her academic faculty position at the Department of Epidemiology. Her research focuses broadly on cardiovascular health promotion, tobacco use and women’s health. Dr. Osibogun works with NIH-funded cohort studies, including the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Dr. Melissa Ward is an assistant professor at the Department of Epidemiology at Stempel College. Previously, she was a postdoctoral associate at the Community-Based Research Institute. A social epidemiologist by training, her research interests include disparities in access to substance abuse treatment, HIV care, and women’s health.

Dr. Sofia Fernandez came to FIU’s School of Social Work after serving as a postdoctoral associate on FIURCMI’s Investigator Development Core, a program designed to provide early state investigators with pilot grant and training opportunities to pursue research careers in the health sciences. Dr. Fernandez earned her doctorate in social welfare from FIU’s School of Social Work in 2017. Her research focuses on utilizing community-based approaches to addressing health disparities among hard to-reach populations, primarily HIV. Dr. Courtney Wilson received his doctorate from the University of Florida’s Public Affairs Program—Social Work track. Dr. Wilson began his career working in the mental health field in New York City, supporting patients with comorbid mental health disabilities. After completing his master’s in social work at Touro College in New York City, he focused on education and academic outcomes for minoritized youth. Over the years, Dr. Wilson has developed a particular interest in working with at risk populations, communities, educational institutions, and city council members to increase interconnectedness, civic engagement, and opportunities available to marginalized groups. His research focuses on incorporating geographic information systems in understanding social and economic barriers to academic success for marginalized groups.

Berenice Castillo will be joining FIU’s School of Social Work in spring 2022, after earning her joint doctorate in social work & development psychology from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Her research has focused on substance

use behavior over time in adolescents. Her dissertation

examines Hispanic adolescent health disparities and mechanisms to improve the health and well-being of Hispanic adolescents who engage in substance use or demonstrate externalizing behaviors.