Professor
Biography, Disciplines and Teaching Interests
Dr. Tarasenko is a Professor at the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. She holds DrPH and MPH degrees from the University of Kentucky, where she majored in both epidemiology and health services management. She has also completed a post-doctoral Health Policy Fellowship with the Academy Health/National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Tarasenko is Certified in Public Health. She also holds Master of Science in Financial Planning, Master of Public Administration and law degrees. To stay abreast with quantitative methodology and cancer research, Dr. Tarasenko has completed several trainings through the ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research at the University of Michigan and cancer research through the National Cancer Institute. More recently, Dr. Tarasenko received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Latvia. She is also serving as consultant for the World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe. More details are provided in Dr. Tarasenko’s CV
Over the years, as PI, co-investigator, and consultant, Dr. Tarasenko has provided conceptual, methodological (e.g., instrumentation and study design), and statistical (e.g., data collection, management, analysis, interpretation, and reporting) support for several university-, foundation-, state-, and NIH- and NSF-funded projects, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies. She has also tested efficacy of theoretically and community-engaged intervention projects (e.g., on cancer screening and disease management, and promotion of physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables). Dr. Tarasenko has also developed the community needs assessments and evaluation plans. As a behavioral epidemiologist, Dr. Tarasenko has an extensive knowledge and experience of working with primary and secondary data (e.g., NHANES, NHIS, and National Vital Statistics System, SEER, PLCO, BRFSS, UK Biobank, and PATH). Dr. Tarasenko’s earlier research focused on primary and secondary cancer prevention in vulnerable populations. As her dedication for health behaviors, specifically physical activity, among vulnerable populations developed, she combined her background expertise and interests in primary and secondary cancer prevention and physical activity to address an emerged priority in the field of health and health disparities, the relationship between tertiary cancer prevention and physical activity.
While teaching doctoral and more recently, undergraduate students, Dr. Tarasenko tries to bring her research and service into the classroom. She is a strong advocate for organizing courses around service learning projects and providing students with hands-on learning experiences. For example, she has promoted her research interests in cancer prevention and control and dedication to service for the vulnerable populations through service-learning in doctoral-level courses on research methods, epidemiology, and grant-writing. Students’ projects were awarded first and second places at the GSU Eagle Showcase: Excellence in Service-Learning in 2017 and 2018.
Disciplines: Epidemiology
Teaching Interests: Research methods (including epidemiologic); cancer and behavioral epidemiology; with service learning: grantwriting, strategic planning, evidence-based public health.
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About Yelena N. Tarasenko
Biography, Disciplines and Teaching Interests
Dr. Tarasenko is a Professor at the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. She holds DrPH and MPH degrees from the University of Kentucky, where she majored in both epidemiology and health services management. She has also completed a post-doctoral Health Policy Fellowship with the Academy Health/National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Tarasenko is Certified in Public Health. She also holds Master of Science in Financial Planning, Master of Public Administration and law degrees. To stay abreast with quantitative methodology and cancer research, Dr. Tarasenko has completed several trainings through the ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research at the University of Michigan and cancer research through the National Cancer Institute. More recently, Dr. Tarasenko received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Latvia. She is also serving as consultant for the World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe. More details are provided in Dr. Tarasenko’s CV
Over the years, as PI, co-investigator, and consultant, Dr. Tarasenko has provided conceptual, methodological (e.g., instrumentation and study design), and statistical (e.g., data collection, management, analysis, interpretation, and reporting) support for several university-, foundation-, state-, and NIH- and NSF-funded projects, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies. She has also tested efficacy of theoretically and community-engaged intervention projects (e.g., on cancer screening and disease management, and promotion of physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables). Dr. Tarasenko has also developed the community needs assessments and evaluation plans. As a behavioral epidemiologist, Dr. Tarasenko has an extensive knowledge and experience of working with primary and secondary data (e.g., NHANES, NHIS, and National Vital Statistics System, SEER, PLCO, BRFSS, UK Biobank, and PATH). Dr. Tarasenko’s earlier research focused on primary and secondary cancer prevention in vulnerable populations. As her dedication for health behaviors, specifically physical activity, among vulnerable populations developed, she combined her background expertise and interests in primary and secondary cancer prevention and physical activity to address an emerged priority in the field of health and health disparities, the relationship between tertiary cancer prevention and physical activity.
While teaching doctoral and more recently, undergraduate students, Dr. Tarasenko tries to bring her research and service into the classroom. She is a strong advocate for organizing courses around service learning projects and providing students with hands-on learning experiences. For example, she has promoted her research interests in cancer prevention and control and dedication to service for the vulnerable populations through service-learning in doctoral-level courses on research methods, epidemiology, and grant-writing. Students’ projects were awarded first and second places at the GSU Eagle Showcase: Excellence in Service-Learning in 2017 and 2018.
Disciplines: Epidemiology
Teaching Interests: Research methods (including epidemiologic); cancer and behavioral epidemiology; with service learning: grantwriting, strategic planning, evidence-based public health.
| Present | Faculty Member, Georgia Southern University ‐ Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences | |
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Disciplines
Research Interests
Professional Service and Affiliations
| 2019 - Present | Consultant/International Expert, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, Division of Noncommunicable Diseases and Prom | 2018 - Present | Fellow, Service-Learning Committee, GSU | 2017 - Present | Chair, JPHCOPH Public Health Student Professional Development - Student Travel Committee | 2017 - Present | Chair, JPHCOPH Student Professional Development: Travel Grant Committee, GSU | 2017 - Present | Reviewer, Journal of Cancer Epidemiology | 2015 - Present | Member, Research Committee, GSU | 2019 - 2022 | Member, Student Conduct Board, GSU | 2018 - 2022 | Member, JPHCOPH Tenure and Promotion Committee, GSU | 2021 | Member, PhD Interdisciplinary Program Ad-Hoc Committee, GSU | 2021 | Member, Research Symposium Presentations, JPHCOPH, GSU | 2021 | Member, Senate Elections Committee, GSU | 2020 - 2021 | Member, Leadership Dissertation Working Group, GSU | 2020 - 2021 | Member, Strategic Planning Ad-Hoc Committee, GSU | 2019 | Member, Development of Undergraduate Concentration in Epidemiology Subcommittee, GSU | 2018 | Grant Reviewer, Cancer Research UK | 2016 - 2017 | Member, Assistant Professor in Epidemiology Search Committee, GSU | 2016 - 2017 | Member, Faculty Grievance Committee, GSU | 2014 - 2015 | Alternate, Graduate Committee, GSU | 2012 - 2015 | Member, The Calendar Committee, GSU | 2013 - 2014 | Member, Rural Health Research Institute, GSU |
Honors and Awards
- Recipient, Scholarship of the President of Russia to Study Abroad, The Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation (2001-2002)
- Recipient, Promising Practitioner Award, University of Kentucky (2001)
- Recipient, AcademyHealth/NCHS Health Policy Fellowship, Academy/Health and NCHS (2011-2012)
- Recipient, Cyber-Mentoring Program, Georgia Southern University (2013-2015)
- Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program, Institute for Higher Education, University of Georgia, Nominated by GSU Interim President, Jean E. Bartels, 2016.
- Georgia Southern University, Outstanding Faculty Advisor Nominee, NACADA Advising Award, Statesboro Campus (January 15, 2019).
- U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and World Learning, Fulbright Specialist Roster (for a tenure of three years starting in 2019).
- UICC Yamagiwa-Yoshida Memorial International Cancer Study Grant, Union for International Cancer Control, Host institution: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France (2021)
Courses
- Perspectives in Translational Research (PUBH 9132)
- Chronic Disease: A Modern Epidemic (PUBH 3131)
- Health Organizations Strategic and Contingency Planning (PHLD 9333)
- Cancer Disparities (PUBH 7898)
- Research Methods (PHLD 9130)
- Epidemiologic Methods (PUBH 8133)
- Public Health Funding and Grantsmanship (PUBH 9135)
- Cancer Epidemiology (PUBH 9233)
| 2021 - 2023 | Master of Science in Financial Planning, University of Georgia | |
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| 2009 - 2011 | Doctor of Public Health, University of Kentucky | |
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| 2009 | Master of Public Health, University of Kentucky | |
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| 2004 | Master of Public Administration, Southern Illinois University Carbondale | |
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| 2001 - 2002 | Degree in Jurisprudence, Visiting Scholar, Southern Illinois University Carbondale | |
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| 2002 | Degree in Jurisprudence (JD Equivalent), Vladimir State Technical University | |
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Contact Information
PO Box 8015
Statesboro, GA 30460
Phone: (912) 478-5057
Office: Hendricks Hall 2012
Email:
