Kinesiology

Biniyam Berhanu Melesse

Biniyam Berhanu Melesse, Ph.D., MPH

Assistant Professor

Department: Kinesiology
Areas of Focus: Public Health
Phone: 309-298-1690
Email: BB-Melesse@wiu.edu

About Me

Dr. Biniyam Berhanu Melesse is an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences at Western Illinois University, where he applies his extensive knowledge and interdisciplinary expertise to advance public health education and research. With a rich educational background, Dr. Melesse holds a Ph.D. in Community Health from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Health and Epidemiology from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Political Science from Wittenberg University. Throughout his career, Dr. Melesse has demonstrated remarkable versatility, having held various roles in Local and State public health departments across Texas and Illinois, as well as serving as a research assistant at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Laboratory for Emotion and Stress Assessment. His dissertation, which examined the associations between neighborhood-level characteristics and the mental health of pregnant women and mothers of young children, exemplifies his commitment to understanding the complex factors influencing the health outcomes of racial and ethnic minorities. Dr. Melesse's primary research interests lie in exploring the contextual factors affecting the mental health of reproductive women, with a particular focus on the Sub-Saharan African region, especially Ethiopia. He employs convergent mixed methods in his research, contributing valuable insights into the maternal mental health challenges faced by Black and Latina women. A distinguished Fulbright fellow, Dr. Melesse's commitment to interdisciplinary research, evident in his diverse educational background and versatile career, continues to drive his impactful work in the field.