Our Team

Sarah Dumas, D.V.M., Ph.D, is an epidemiologist and public health researcher whose work focuses on the intersections of water and food systems, climate change, and human health / One Health. She brings over a decade of experience leading transdisciplinary research and evaluation initiatives in both international development and domestic public health.

Dr. Dumas earned her BA in Biology from Pomona College, her DVM from Cornell University, and her PhD in Epidemiology and International Nutrition, also from Cornell. Her doctoral research in rural Zambia used a participatory, community-driven approach to examine the impact of small-scale, semi-intensive egg production systems on household nutrition and livelihoods.

Following her PhD, Dr. Dumas spent six years with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she led survey-based research on public health knowledge, behaviors, and outcomes, including a citywide panel study that informed the city’s COVID-19 response. Most recently, she served as an International Research Advisor at USAID’s Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security, where she supported research and learning related to food systems resilience, gender equity, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

In her current role as a Research Scientist at the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness, Dr. Dumas leads research on the health impacts of climate change and the evaluation of disease prevention and adaptation interventions. She specializes in mixed-methods research, survey design, and participatory approaches. Dr. Dumas is committed to bridging disciplines and sectors to generate evidence that advances health equity and improves lives.

Maya Rao, M.P.H, is a Senior Center Specialist in the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness (RGC). In this role, she helps identify research opportunities and secure funding to study evidence-based public health interventions for climate-sensitive hazards affecting at-risk communities. In addition, she supports the management of research projects, analysis and dissemination of findings, and coordination of learning and capacity building events hosted by the RGC and its partners.

Maya is passionate about using data to drive impact in global health and sustainable development. She brings a breadth of experience in program evaluation, health promotion, research coordination, and humanitarian assistance through her prior work with Plan International, Catholic Relief Services, the CDC, and the University of California San Francisco. Her career has taken her across Africa, Latin America and Asia, from supporting humanitarian programs in Sudan, Ethiopia and Mali to strengthening nutrition and disaster risk reduction initiatives in the Dominican Republic and the Philippines. Maya’s commitment to global service began in the Peace Corps, where she spent two years in Madagascar partnering with local organizations and health clinics on community-led initiatives. She holds a Master of Public Health in Global Health from Emory University and speaks both French and Spanish.

XuanHa Nguyen is a School Counseling graduate student and Administrative Associate at the George Washington University, with prior experience in benefits administration and a strong focus on mental wellness. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a minor in Human Resource Management from Virginia Commonwealth University.