Department of Biology

Maureen Maurer

Posted on January 31, 2017

Maureen graduated from UNCG in 1997 with a B.S. in Biology. After graduation, she spent six months working as a laboratory technician studying Neisseria gonorrhea, but soon thereafter joined the U.S. Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa. From 1998 to 2000, Maureen lived in a small town called Manantali, where she learned French and Bambara, the local language. Working in collaboration with primary school teachers, Maureen developed an environmental education curriculum in French and Bambara and coordinated two Earth Day events involving more than 400 students. She also delivered weekly radio programs on environmental and health issues, in Bambara, reaching a 45-mile radius. In 2001, Maureen pursued her Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education. As part of her graduate work, Maureen conducted a needs assessment of female refugees in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, identifying physical and mental health concerns as well as need for continued follow-up. In 2003, Maureen joined the Chapel Hill office of the American Institutes for Research (AIR), a not-for-profit behavioral and social science research organization, where she has remained for 10 years. As a Senior Researcher in AIR’s Health Policy and Research group, Maureen currently leads large research projects and tasks related to engaging patients and consumers in health care, health policy, and research; explaining medical evidence to consumers and clinicians; and eliminating health disparities. She is a highly experienced qualitative researcher, responsible for designing research studies and program evaluations, conducting interviews and focus groups, and analyzing the results of large-scale qualitative research. Maureen treasures her time at UNCG. Her course work, professional opportunities, and interactions with students and professors ignited her passions in health care, social justice, research, and international travel. She is especially thankful for Rob Cannon’s mentorship and support.