Crystal Dixon

Crystal T. Dixon, MPH, MA is an Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Wake Forest University (WFU). Dixon received a Bachelor’s in Public Health Studies and a Master’s in Public Health from East Carolina University (ECU) and a Master in Sustainability from Wake Forest University.

As a graduate of WFU, Dixon was recruited by Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry to serve as the Community Engagement and Research Support at the Anna Julia Cooper Center to promote scholarship and community activism through exploring the intersection of race, gender, and place. Concurrently, Dixon served as a graduate course assistant and completed an independent study under Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry entitled, Hip Hop, Feminism, and Public Health. Dixon’s reputation has landed her an opportunity to co-teach with Harris-Perry a course at WFU entitled, POL210: Race, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice.

Dixon’s research explores the intersection of environmental racism, sustainability, and public health. She has contributed to research funded by The National Institutes of Health, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), The Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, WFU Program for Leadership and Character, and has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications. Dixon is currently serving as a principal investigator on research that explores the intersection of disaster resilience, climate change, and public health in the Caribbean. Dixon is also consulting on a NASA funded research project that is exploring the use of green infrastructural solutions to address flooding impacting low-income communities. Dixon has presented her research contributions to organizations including the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Food and Drug Administration, and has been featured on national podcasts, including The Public Health Millennial and BlackDoctors.org. Additionally, Dixon currently serves as a Governing Councilor for the Environment Section of APHA Dixon contributed to passing the first policy brief calling for the assessment and oversight of healthcare waste as an environmental justice concern.

Dixon currently serves on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Anti-racism Consortium where she integrates racial equity in philanthropic practices. Her candid approach in her work has landed her awards, recognitions, and appointments to serve on several academic and non-profit Board of Directors including The Partnership Project and CleanAIRE NC. Dixons reputation has landed her an appointment as a Senior Fellow for the National Wellness Institute where she advises on how environmental conditions impacts health and wellbeing.

Teaching

• HES 100: Lifestyles and Health

Publications

• Co-Editor: Sampson, N., Okoh, M., Dixon, C., Patel, D., Wilson, O. COVID-19, Waste & Environmental Equity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
• Editors: Chandra L. Ford, Derek M. Griffith, Marino A. Bruce and Keon Gilbert; co-authors: Kristin Z. Black, Stephanie Baker, Linda Barry Robertson, Alexandra F. Lightfoot, Kimberly, Alexander-Bratcher, Deanna Befus, Carol Cothern, Crystal Dixon, Katrina R. Ellis, Fatima Guerrab, Jennifer Schaal, Beth Simon, Beth Smith , Kari Thatcher, Sonja M. Wilson, Christina Yongue , Eugenia Eng. American Public Health Association Press Book entitled, Racism: Science & Tools for the Professional.
• Essie Torres, Crystal Dixon, Alice Richman. Understanding the Breast Cancer Experience of Survivors: A Qualitative Study of African American Women in Rural Eastern North Carolina. Journal of Cancer Education, doi 10.1007/s12187-015-0833-0.
• Cleo A. Samuel, PhD,1,2 Jennifer Schaal, MD,3 Linda Robertson, DrPH, RN, MSN,4 Jemeia Kollie, BA,1 Stephanie Baker, PhD,5 Kristin Black, PhD, MPH,6 Olive Mbah, MPH,1 Crystal Dixon, MPH, MCHES,7 Katrina Ellis, PhD, MPH, MSW,6,8 Geni Eng, DrPH,6 Fatima Guerrab,9 Nora Jones,Med,10 Amanda Kotey,BS,6 Claire Morse, PhD,11 Jessica Taylor,BSPH,1 Vickie Whitt,10 Samuel Cykert, MD12 . Racial Differences in Symptom Management Experiences During Breast Cancer Treatment. Supportive Care in Cancer. Funded by National Cancer Institute
• Ida Griesemer, Sarah Birken, Thomas Clodfelter, Crystal Dixon, Nisha Gottfredson, Fatima Guerrab, Randall John, Aneri Kothari, Alexandra Lightfoot, Suzanne Maman, Claire Morse, Christine Rini, Kari Thatcher. Examining nurse navigation through the lens of structural inequities: the role of structural support.
• Baker, Stephanie L., Black, Kristin, Z., Dixon, Crystal E., Yongue, Christina, M., McCarter, Patrick, Manning, Matthew, Hessmiller, Joanne, Griesemer, I., Garikipati, A., Bosire, Claire, Alenxander, Kimberly, Lightfoot, Alexander. Applying the ACCURE Framework to Maternal Healthcare and the Education Systems. Submitted to Fontiers Journal.
• Griesemer, Ida., Lightfoot, A.F., Robertson, L., Bosire, Claire, Guerrab, Fatima, Kotey, Amanda, Alexander-Braxter, Kimberly, Baker, Stephanie, Black, Kristin, Dixon, Crystal, Ellis, Katrina, Foley, Karen, Goettsch, Christina, Moore, Antoinette, Samuel, Cleo, Smith, Beth, Yongue, Christina, Cycert, Sam, Eng, Geni. Examining nurse navigator support in an equity-focused quality improvement intervention to eliminate racial disparities in breast and lung cancer treatment completion. Submitted to Oncology Practice.
• Robertson, L.B., Lightfoot, A.F., Griesemer, I., Guerrab, F., Dixon, C., Moore, A., Kotey, A., Morse, C., Eng, E. Examining Nurse Navigator Notes When Addressing Racial Health Equity in Cancer Care: Lessons from the Accountability for Cancer Care through Undoing Racism and Equity Study. 13 pages.