About Me
I am a health equity researcher who studies the political economy of health and public policy to look for “what works” in reducing health inequities and protecting community health. I am a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar and Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Arlington. I hold a PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy and a Master of Public Policy from The University of Texas at Dallas, Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington, and a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Texas Christian University.
My current research focuses on the intersection of political, economic, and social contexts of immigrants and other marginalized groups in the U.S. I study the ways that institutions influence health to develop multi-level, innovative, and common sense approaches for community health improvement. As an educator, I teach graduate and undergraduate courses in social research methods, immigration and health policy, and community-based practice.
Select Projects and Presentations
Marcela Nava, PhD MPP MSSW 