Dawn Ford

Dr. Ford is contributing faculty for the PhD of Public Health program at Walden. She holds the PhD in Public Health (Epidemiology) from Walden University. She is also Certified in Public Health (CPH). She has taught in higher education for over 25 years in the areas of biology, environmental science, public health, and leadership.

Her primary area of research interest is environmental health and epidemiology. In public health, she has taught courses in environmental health, health systems, leadership in public health, health promotion and communication, chronic disease epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, advanced epidemiological methods, and climate change and health. She has work experience in a local health department as environmental scientist, emergency response coordinator, contact tracing manager, and epidemiology department head. She served as the Chief Epidemiologist for COVID-19 response at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Dr. Ford is the Immediate Past President of the Tennessee Public Health Association. ​

Courses Taught

PHLT 8520 - Advanced Epidemiological Methods

PHLT 8011 - Foundations Of Doctoral Success in Public Health

PHLT 9000 - Public Health Dissertation

Education

PhD, Walden University

Post-master's Certificate, University of Tennessee

MS, Miami University

BS, Western Kentucky University

Public Service

Chattanooga Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Board, Board of Directors - Chattanooga

Bahamas Protected Areas Fund, Member -

Tennessee Public Health Association, President -

Awards / Honors

Member of the Year, Tennessee Public Health Association, 2025

Excellence in Teaching Award, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2025

Carolyn Thompson and Roger Brown Community Service Award, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2023

Doris Spain Award for Distinguished Service, Tennessee Public Health Association, 2024

Grantsmanship Award, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2023

Outstanding Service Award, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2022

Publications

Ford, D., Saraney, J. Benefits of Integrating Service-Learning With Other High-Impact Practices. Scholarly Teacher

Garland, T. S., McGuffee, K., Ford, D., Dotson, E. (2024). Politicizing Vaccination Requirements: American University Responses in the Era of COVID-19. Higher Education Policy

Coulter, A., McElrone, M., Ford, D., Hamilton, K. (2025). Exploring predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among students, faculty, and staff at a Southeastern University in the United States. Journal of American College Health

Ford, D. (2024). Picture of Our Health: Hamilton County, Tennessee.

Ford, D. (2025). Climate Impacts, Preparedness, and Resilience in Rural Tennessee.

Ford, D., Cantu, R., North, Z., Cherian, T., Patel, K., Brumfield, J. (2019). Addressing Health Inequities in South Chattanooga: Lead Contamination and Childhood Lead Poisoning.

Presentations

Ford, D. (2025). Small and Rural LHDs Taking on Climate Change . NACCHO

Ford, D. (2025). Serving Local Community through International Science Education in the Bahamas -. TAIE

Ford, D. (2025). Energizing student engagement through scholarships: Tennessee Public Health Association partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health. APHA

Ford, D. (2023). Climate Adaptations in Small and Rural Counties. National Association of City and County Health Officials

Ford, D. (2025). Elevating a Public Health Association Conference: Strategies Implemented in Tennessee. NACCHO

Ford, D. (2023). Extreme Weather and Emergency Preparedness. Tennessee Public Health Association

Ford, D., Mandernach, J. (2023). Post-Pandemic Teaching: Revisiting Common Practices. OLC

Ford, D., Saraney, J. (2023). Preparedness Lessons: Mpox knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs on a college campus. NACCHO