Kristi Messer, MSW, MPH serves Nova Southeastern University (NSU) as the Assistant Project Manager of the Institute for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness (IDEP) coordinating the daily operations, institutional & community collaborations, and the funding and publication efforts of the all-hazards interdisciplinary training and research program. She also holds an assistant professorship in Public Health in the College of Osteopathic Medicine offering undergraduate and graduate instruction within the Masters of Public Health program and the Criminal Justice Institute. Kristi is the Executive Director of NSU’s Project HOPE, an innovative pre-doctoral training program to provide medical students with education and opportunities for the provision or primary care services with individuals who are homeless.

Kristi received her BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and completed her Master of Public Health and her Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.

As a Public Health Analyst with the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) within the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, Kristi served as liaison in collaborative activities with public and private institutions to plan, develop, and implement federally-funded community health centers across the country. Through continuous monitoring, evaluation and reporting of health center activities, Kristi contributed to the development and expansion of health centers across the nations which are vital to the health of underserved and vulnerable populations. She additionally provided technical and acquisitions assistance, information technology solutions, and supervision and guidance of public health scholars and interns.

Kristi has served as therapist, educator, evaluator, developer, advocate, and consultant for various educational and health care organizations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina. Her roles as faculty member, program and evaluation director, and child and family therapist at these locations demonstrate her interest and skills among working with those with developmental disabilities, special needs, mental health and substance abuse issues, and high-risk populations among others.