About
Health is more than the absence of illness – it is a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being. In line with that broad definition, the IIHR provides resources for conducting scholarship, service, and teaching on all aspects of health and well-being: emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial.
The IIHR is a collaborative effort aimed at supporting faculty research and bringing community stakeholders together for the betterment of health and well-being for all.
We bring academic expertise to basic and applied challenges in health research and academic mentorship opportunities to increase the inclusion and diversity of those traditionally left out of the research process.
Our Mission
The mission of the IIHR is threefold:
01
Advancing Health Research
Utilize data and rigorous methodologies to conduct and support health-focused research across disciplines to further faculty scholarship.
02
Data Equity
Promote data equity and identify actionable solutions to complex challenges in human health and wellness to serve the community.
03
Community Empowerment
Provide mentorship, professional training, and education to community members, business leaders, and government agencies.
Board Members
Matt Willis, MD, PhD
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Denise Lucy, EdD
Executive Director, Institute of Leadership Studies, Professor, Business and Organizational Studies
Kelly McDermott, PhD, MA
Part-time faculty, University of San Francisco
Wayne de Fremery
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Meghan Kehoe
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IIHR’s Co-Founders
The IIHR is founded by educators and research experts Michaela George, PhD, MPH, and Benjamin Rosenberg, PhD.
United by their passion for research and a commitment to mentorship and their community, Dr. George and Dr. Rosenberg created the IIHR to widen the space for valuable health research and human understanding.
Michaela George, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Global Public Health
Dr. Michaela George grew up in Marin and has always felt a strong connection to her community. After several trips to the East Coast for her education (Middlebury College in Vermont and Boston University in Massachusetts), she settled in the Bay Area to pursue her passion for epidemiology and public health. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, Michaela started working at Dominican University of California in 2015. Michaela has a long history of incorporating students into her research, both in the classroom and the community. She has established relationships with partners like the Center for Domestic Peace, the Ritter Center, the Rite of Passage Research Collaboration, and Play Marin, using her expertise to evaluate existing programs, design research studies to answer grant-funded questions, and develop sustainable strategies to enact change.
Benjamin Rosenberg, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dr. Benjamin D. Rosenberg is a social health psychologist with expertise in health behavior, research methods and statistics, and survey design. Ben earned a BA in psychology from the University of Colorado – Boulder, as well as an MA and PhD in applied social psychology from Claremont Graduate University. Ben is a passionate instructor and mentor; collaborating with students on research is one of his favorite parts of being a professor. He enjoys connecting with students on a personal and academic level. His favorite classes to teach include Research Methods, Social Psychology, Health Psychology, and Statistics. In addition, he is an active researcher in the areas of social psychology, motivation, and health. He has authored or co-authored papers on these topics in journals such as Motivation Science, Social Science & Medicine, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Mixed Methods Research, and Computers in Human Behavior. Ben is the Director of the Health and Motivation Lab.