Melissa Tibbits, PhD

Vice-Chair and Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director

Department of Health Promotion
University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Public Health

Professional Summary

• 2016-Present, Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion
• 2009 – 2016, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion
• 2006-2009, NIDA National Research Service Award Pre-doctoral Fellow, Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University

Education

• 2009, PhD, Human Development & Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University
• 2006, MS, Human Development & Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University
• 2004, BA, Anthropology and Psychology, University of Tulsa

Research Interests

Dr. Tibbits specializes in research on the development, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives that (a) address the underlying causes of poor health outcomes in childhood and adolescence and (b) enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. Dr. Tibbits is especially interested in improving child and adolescent health through evidence-informed, multi-sector initiatives. She enjoys collaborating with a variety of partners, including, non-profit organizations, schools, local health departments, and government agencies.

Selected Publications

• Kashani, B.M., Tibbits, M., Potter, R.C., Gofin, R., & Westman, L., & Watanabe-Galloway. (2019). Human papillomavirus vaccination trends, barriers, and promotion methods among American Indian and Non-Hispanic White adolescents in Michigan 2006-2014. Journal of Community Health, 44, 436-443. 
• Nguyen, W., Siahpush, M., Grimm, B.L., Singh, G.K., Tibbits, M.K. (2019). Women from racial or ethnic minority and low socioeconomic background receive more prenatal education: Results from the 2012 to 2014 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Birth, 1-9.
• Tibbits, M., Maloney, S., Ndashe, T.P., Grimm, B., Johansson, P., & Siahpush, M. (2018). Increasing sexually transmitted infection testing through a coordinated, community-wide approach. American Journal of Public Health, 108, 782-784.
• Tibbits, M., Ndashe, T.P., King, K., & Siahpush, M. (2018). Promoting condom use through a youth-focused community-wide free condom distribution initiative. American Journal of Public Health, 108, 1506-1508. 
• Tibbits, M., Wang, H., Soliman, G., Schram, S., Balluff, M., Grimm, B., & Siahpush, M. (2017). Demographic differences in healthy food purchases in a corner store intervention. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 1-9.
• Dinkel, D., Huberty, J., Beets, M., & Tibbits, M. (2014). Staff’s perceptions of the use of evidence-based physical activity promotion strategies for promoting girls’ physical activity at afterschool programs: A qualitative study. Evaluation and Program Planning, 45, 102-109.
• Feyerherm, L., Tibbits, M.K., Wang, H., Schram, S., & Balluff, M. (2014). Partners for a Healthy City: Implementing policies and environmental changes within organizations to promote health. American Journal of Public Health, 104, 1165-1168.
• Tibbits, M.K., Smith, E.A., & Caldwell, L.L., & Flisher, A.J. (2011). Impact of HealthWise South Africa on polydrug use and high-risk sexual behavior. Health Education Research, 26, 653-663.
• Tibbits, M.K., Bumbarger, B.K., Kyler, S. & Perkins, D.F. (2010) Sustaining evidence-based interventions under real-world conditions: Results of a large-scale diffusion project. Prevention Science, 11, 252-262.

Professional Affiliations

• American Public Health Association
• Public Health Association of Nebraska
• Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine