Associate Professor, Center for Reducing Health Disparities
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Dr. Athena Ramos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and is affiliated with the Center for Reducing Health Disparities, the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH), and the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, Nebraska. She leads an outreach and engagement team and serves as principal investigator for multiple community-based health and social research initiatives in such areas as agricultural health and safety, immigrant integration, and community well-being. Dr. Ramos is part of the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center and leads efforts focused on farmworkers. She is an experienced administrator, program manager, and researcher with proven ability to develop and implement health, social, and human service programs with culturally diverse populations. She has over 20 years of experience in health promotion, community development, public engagement, and strategy design.
Ramos has a PhD in International Family & Community Studies from Clemson University and two Master’s degrees – one in Business Administration (MBA) and one in Urban Studies (MS) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Dr. Ramos is member of the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA), AgriSafe Network, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice, the National Hispanic Network to Reduce Tobacco-Related and Cancer Health Disparities, and Welcoming America. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Agricultural Safety & Health (ISASH), the Omaha Community Foundation, and Spark Community Development.
Dr. Ramos continuously strives to bring a sense of hope and vitality to the work that she does both professionally and personally. She has been honored numerous times for her commitment and dedication to making Omaha and Nebraska a healthier, more inclusive, and vibrant place to live, work, and play. She was recognized as one of the “40 Under 40” by the Midlands Business Journal, one of the Ten Outstanding Young Omahans, the American Heart Association’s Advocacy Volunteer of the Year, the Nebraska Latino American Commission’s Inspiration Award recipient, and a WCA Tribute to Women Honoree. Recently, she was awarded the Carruth J. Wagner Faculty Prize in Public Health from the UNMC College of Public Health and named a “Science Defender” for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Ramos is married and is the mother of four children.