Kristina Jiles, MS, MPH, PhD, CHES

Kristina Jiles serves as a Research Assistant Professor in the Virginia Tech Center for Public Health Practice and Research (CPHPR), which is housed in the Department of Population Health Sciences within the Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and supported by the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment at Virginia Tech. She is also a Public Health Extension Specialist with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). Dr. Jiles earned her Master of Public Health in Public Health Education in 2017, with a focus on the implementation and evaluation of public health programs addressing priority population health needs. She received her PhD in 2019, with her doctoral dissertation research, MPH practicum, and capstone experiences centered on the Balanced Living with Diabetes (BLD) program, a community-based lifestyle management jointly administered through CPHPR and VCE. She currently serves as the Extension Leader for the BLD program.

Dr. Jiles has contributed her expertise in qualitative research and program evaluation to a wide range of public health initiatives across Virginia, including projects focused on diabetes prevention and management, older adult physical activity, COVID‑19 messaging and vaccine education, sustainable transportation, and opioid and substance use disorder. These efforts have been supported by funding from organizations such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, USDA, Extension Foundation, CDC, and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD). Dr. Jiles has experience in qualitative research and provides technical support and training to colleagues and students interested in incorporating qualitative research methodologies into their work. She has served as a preceptor for numerous undergraduate and graduate students, guiding them through public health practicum and integrative learning experiences by providing hands-on training and opportunities to apply foundational public health competencies in real-world settings. She continues to work and grow addressing VCE and CPHPR mission efforts to build capacity and address public health gaps in communities across Virginia.