Previous research team members & mentees

Danran Lyu, MA

Danran was the first undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Rivera's research team. She subsequently received her Master's in Digital Communication at Georgetown, with a forte in financial transformation and a certificate in International Business Diplomacy. Danran navigates the interplay between tech and societal impact with a focus on effective communication to mitigate gaps between different sectors.As a communicator adept with digital tools, she bridge narratives to foster meaningful engagement and sustainable solutions.

Kathryna Corpuz, MPH

Kathryna served as a member of Dr. Rivera's research group from September 2022-January 2024 as part of her rotation as a Population Health Fellow for the Rutgers Health Office of Population Health. Currently, she is a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Custom Concentration. Her research focus is on culturally sensitive communications for Asian American populations.

Donna Meeker-O’Rourke, MPH

Donna has over 19 years of experience in higher education, working in various departments and offices, and has served as an adjunct professor for the past 12 years. She currently teaches Introduction to Medical Humanities. As a doctoral student in the Family Science and Human Development program, her research focuses on intimate partner violence and the systemic factors that perpetuate it. In her role as a Population Health Fellow at Rutgers University, she contributed to several initiatives related to population health, student wellness, and addressing intimate partner and interpersonal violence.

Rupashree Mitra, MHCI

Rupa received her Master of Health Communication and Information in 2023. She currently serves a large list of healthcare clientele in the IT operations field at CDW Logistics, LLC. She is passionate about healthcare administration and operations because it allows her to focus on the efficient management of healthcare services, improve patient outcomes, streamline processes, and ensure that healthcare organizations run smoothly. She finds fulfillment in solving problems and being proactive in decision-making to enhance the quality of care.

Horacio Hernández Méndez, MPH

Horacio completed a Population Health Fellow rotation with Dr. Rivera from 2024-2026. He received his Master of Public Health with a concentration in global health from The College of New Jersey, where he also previously completed his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Public Health. His previous experiences focused on community engaged learning and addressing social justice issues through his previous roles as an Americorps Member and Member Life Coach with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.