Guest Profile
Dr. Melissa Oden
Melissa Oden is a Fort Worth, Texas native who earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Texas Wesleyan University in 1997. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2001, a Master of Public Health in 2006 from the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, and a Doctor of Health Education (2011) from Andrew Taylor Still University School of Health Management.
Dr. Oden has been practicing social work for 21 years and a certified health educator for 16 years. Her work experience ranges from social work in hospital and long-term care settings, to teaching and public health education and community practice, to professional development training and project management for applied social research projects. Her current fieldwork focuses on and Emergency Management and Disaster Planning and developing cross-disciplinary collaborations between urban planners and public health professionals. She is currently founding CEO of Health Education Resources Network, a public health project management and health education consulting company.
She is a Licensed Master Social Worker with Independent Practice Recognition (LMSW-IPR) and a Certified Health Education Specialist® (CHES®). She is an active member of the Texas Public Health Association (TPHA), serving on that organization’s Executive Board & Governing Council and as a Past President and Fellow. She is also a charter member and Past President of the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health Alumni Society Board. She is the recipient of the 2012 Texas Public Health Association Jessie A. Yoas Memorial Advocacy Award for continuing the important work of advocating of key public health issues. She was also recognized in 2014 by Texas Wesleyan University as an alumnus “Mover & Shaker”. Dr. Oden was recognized as an Outstanding Faculty in Research with Student Involvement in April 2018, and her Planners4Health Team was awarded the Promising Practice Award from the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) for their work in tornado recovery in Van Zandt County, Texas. Dr. Oden lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her 3-year-old orange tabby, Oliver.
