Biography
Joel is of Purépecha and Akimel O’odham (Pima) descent on his mother’s side and his father is Mexican American. He officially joined the Center in September of 2023 after contracting with the Center for over two years at the start of 2020. He contributed to the data and volunteer management for the tribal nations layer of the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus dashboard. Joel now works as a Research Associate in Chinle, AZ and is involved in the coordination, evaluation, and data analysis of infectious disease programs including COVID-19 and RSV SuNA (Surveillance in Native American Children and Adults) studies.
Prior to joining the Center, Joel has held several public health contracting, fellowship, and internship roles including with the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Morehouse School of Medicine, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Prior to this, Joel served as one of the founding members of Indigenous Students at Hopkins as well as a Director of the Multicultural Leadership Council during his undergraduate program. Joel has a BS degree in Molecular and Cell Biology and Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, and an MSPH degree in Epidemiology with concentrations in Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) from the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health.