Baaba Essel, PhD, MPH, is a Clinical Assistant Professor with a focus on the Health Promotion concentration as the eventual concentration lead. She earned her PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Prevention Science at Kent State University and a Master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education at Montclair State University. Throughout her academic career, Dr. Essel has gained valuable experience teaching multiple courses across various degree levels (undergraduate and graduate courses), demonstrating versatility in curriculum development and pedagogical approaches that engage diverse student populations. As a health education specialist, she worked with the Irvington Health Department in New Jersey where she contributed to community-based health promotion strategies.
As an active contributor to the scholarly community, Dr. Essel serves as a peer reviewer for the Ohio Journal of Public Health, where they evaluate manuscripts and contribute to advancing the quality of public health research and scholarship in the state and beyond. Her current research focuses on mental health and suicide prevention among adolescents and young adults in the United States. Through this work, Dr. Essel seeks to identify risk and protective factors, evaluate prevention strategies, and inform evidence-based interventions that can reduce suicide rates and improve mental health outcomes for youth populations. She also maintains active involvement in professional organizations that advance public health practices and education. These include the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Ohio Public Health Association (OPHA), and the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE).