Michelle Johns PhD, MPH

Michelle M. Johns, PhD, MPH, is a Senior Research Scientist in the Bridge and Public Health departments at NORC at the University of Chicago. She is a behavioral health scientist with more than 15 years of experience leading applied research, program evaluation, and implementation science studies focused on health equity. Her research examines how social and structural factors—including stigma, discrimination, violence, and social relationships—influence health and well-being across the life course, with particular expertise in sexuality and gender, adolescent and young adult health, and violence victimization. Methodologically, Dr. Johns specializes in mixed methods research, implementation science, survey and measure development, and community-engaged approaches to research and evaluation. She was a 2026 Visiting Scholar in HIV Implementation Science at Northwestern University, and has led federally funded studies for NIH, CDC, HRSA, and the Department of Justice. Dr. Johns previously served as the CDC's lead subject matter expert on LGBTQ+ youth and safe and supportive school environments. Her work has informed public health policy and practice and has been published in leading journals spanning public health, behavioral science, and sociology. Dr. Johns holds an MPH and PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. You can read more about her work here.