Marialuisa Ochoa

Michigan
mochoa@nnphi.org

Marialuisa Ochoa is a Program Assistant in the Evidence to Action (E2A) portfolio at the National Network of Public Health Institutes. In this role, she supports her team with administrative assistance, logistics management, research and data collection, and meeting/event coordination.

Growing up in Flint, Michigan, she has witnessed the impact of health inequities, inspiring her commitment to addressing systemic challenges and fostering community resilience, which has guided her journey into public health.

She holds a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Education from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Emergency Management from Saginaw Valley State University.

Her graduate research explored food access barriers among Grand Valley State University students, resulting in data-driven recommendations to improve resource awareness, availability, and sustainability while reducing stigma around seeking support. This work reflects her passion for using research to develop practical solutions that empower communities. Her roles as an Emergency Preparedness Intern at a local health department and as an AmeriCorps VISTA Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Associate strengthened her skills in program implementation, project management, community outreach, and public health research.

At NNPHI, she is excited to collaborate in transforming data into actionable, evidence-based strategies that create meaningful, real-world impact.

In her free time, Marialuisa loves traveling to experience new cultures and cuisines, as well as to explore historical sites and natural landscapes. She also enjoys reading, crafting, taking nature walks to recharge, experimenting with new recipes, and spending quality time with her family and friends.