Dr. Wendy White began her career in public health at the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) as the first graduate research assistant for the study. She was later hired as the Coordinator / Instructor for the Undergraduate Training and Education Center (UTEC) at Tougaloo College. She currently serves as the Principal Investigator and Director for the Center.

She is also an Associate Professor in the Natural Sciences Division at Tougaloo College in 2015 and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at Brown University.

Dr. White’s research interests include smoking, asthma, lung function, and capacity building. She has worked extensively with the American Heart Association (AHA) as an AHA Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center (ATRAC) Fellow and as an AHA Atrial Fibrillation Strategically Focused Research Network grant mentor. Additionally, she serves as member of the leadership committee for an AHA pilot program to support diversity in science, Supporting Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) Oversight Advisory Committee (OAC).

She has mentored over 300 college students through the JHS Scholar Program who have begun careers in public health, biomedical research, health administration, and health care.

A native of Greenville, Mississippi, she received a BS in Biology from Mississippi Valley State University and both an MPH and PHD in Epidemiology and Environmental Science, respectively from Jackson State University.