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ESG 50 Anniversary Fellow Profile
RANJITA MISRA

Ranjita Misra, PhD, CHES, FASHA

Professor and MPH Program Coordinator
Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Director, Public Health Training Center
School of Public Health

West Virginia University

Dr. Misra is a Professor at West Virginia University mentorship and guidance when I first joined the PhD
School of Public Health in the Department of Social and program at Old Dominion University. Even though I was
Behavioral Sciences. She is a well-known international a top student in the program, I always felt something amiss
health disparities researcher with a research focus on when I did not have a mentor to guide and help me. I also
diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease like to take pride in working with students and colleagues
in multi-ethnic populations (Asians, Hispanics, and to further the ESG chapters. For example, when I realized
African Americans). Dr. Misra is recognized for her that more undergraduate students are members of the
investigations in epidemiological and intervention studies, Alpha Pi chapter at Texas A&M University, I made efforts
for using a transdisciplinary team approach, and for to promote and encouraged graduate students to be
combining public health and clinical models of inquiry. involved in ESG projects and activities. But with further
She was the founding faculty of a NIH funded Center for discussions with the graduate students, we were able to
the Study of Health Disparities at Texas A&M University, retain the graduate students and their interests as active
and a member of the West Virginia Prevention Research ESG members by having two sub-sections of ESG at Texas
Center. She has served as the PI or Co-PI on grants from A&M University, i.e., ESG-Undergraduate (ESG-U) and
federal (National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease ESG-Graduate (ESG-G) which had resulted the graduate
Control and Prevention), state and local levels to examine level members to share their unique research and career
prevalence of diabetes & diabetes prevention and experiences with the undergraduate students, work as a
management intervention programs to improve health team with different meeting forums but appropriate
behaviors and outcomes. representation at the officer levels, and an enhanced
experience for all Eta Sigma Gamma members at TAMU.
How did your involvement with your local Eta Sigma
Gamma begin? What led to your becoming involved in national-level
leadership of ESG?
I am thankful for being introduced to this honor society by
the late Dr. Steve Hohman and has found my calling in I was requested to run for the Vice President position by a
mentoring students at all levels of education (high school, colleague and mentor in 2007, and was elected in 2008.
undergraduate, and graduate). Without a doubt I can say
that serving as the faculty mentor to ESG chapters at Please describe your most meaningful contribution –
Truman State University, Ohio University, and Texas your legacy so to speak - to ESG.
A&M University for a decade and half has been one of the
most rewarding experiences of my professional career! My I believe I made several meaningful contribution to
commitment and interest to improve professional growth brought positive changes
of Gammans through education, research and service 1) Stabilized the organization when the President
activities, as well as advocacy for recognition of individual resigned after my first year of VP. I took over the
and teams of the chapters has rose from personal need for responsibility a week prior to our 3-day board meeting, and

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