Dr. Denise Anderson, Ph.D., MPH
Executive Director
Dr. Denise Anderson, a native of Newark, New Jersey, is an accomplished executive and public health practitioner with a diverse and extensive background spanning multiple sectors, including hospitals, state and federal governments, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and academia. Her generalist approach to public health has enabled her to lead programs across a wide range of areas, including HIV, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, birth defects, developmental disabilities, chronic illnesses, maternal and child health, primary care, COVID-19, and more. She has also worked in workforce development, transitional housing, behavioral health, and youth programs.
Dr. Anderson is a Northern New Jersey American Red Cross board member, co-chairing the Regional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. She is also the President-Elect of the New Jersey Public Health Association (NJPHA) and a board member of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ), where she co-chairs the Disparity Study Task Force Committee.
Her academic achievements include a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology with a concentration in Dietetics from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Master of Public Health from Rutgers University’s School of Public Health, and a Ph.D. in Urban Systems (environment – education and health systems) from Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Dr. Anderson is also a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Prevention Specialist (PHPS) fellow (Atlanta, GA and Los Angeles, CA), and an Eagleton Institute of Politics Legislative Policymaking fellow, which included time with the New Jersey State Legislature, Office of Legislative Services.