Faculty Profile
Asari Offiong, PhD, MPH
- Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Equity
- MPACT Scholar
Asari Offiong, PhD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior
and Health Equity. Prior to her appointment at Michigan, she was a Senior Research
Scientist within the Sexual and Reproductive Health area at Child Trends, a national
research institute focused on the health and well-being of children, youth and families.
As an adolescent health researcher and public health practitioner, she has over a
decade of experience leading youth development programs and conducting mixed methods,
community based participatory research in urban settings. Dr. Offiong applies a strengths-based
and youth-centered approach to research, including interests in reengaging opportunity
youth (youth disconnected from school and work), preventing early substance use, and
promoting positive sexual and reproductive health among the most vulnerable, including
expecting and parenting youth.
Specifically, her research focuses on exploring the threats to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and well-being - integrating reproductive justice and youth-centered perspectives to understand more broadly the factors that influence how adolescents perceive sex, form their intentions and make sexual health decisions. These findings are then used to inform and develop quality, culturally relevant programs and initiative and policies focused on youth. She choose to think about, study and discuss adolescents as at-promise, instead of at-risk – seeking to make lasting, authentic relationships with youth, community members, and local organizations.
Specifically, her research focuses on exploring the threats to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and well-being - integrating reproductive justice and youth-centered perspectives to understand more broadly the factors that influence how adolescents perceive sex, form their intentions and make sexual health decisions. These findings are then used to inform and develop quality, culturally relevant programs and initiative and policies focused on youth. She choose to think about, study and discuss adolescents as at-promise, instead of at-risk – seeking to make lasting, authentic relationships with youth, community members, and local organizations.
- PhD, Population, Family & Reproductove Health, Johns Hopkins University
- MPH, International Health & Maternal and Child Health, Boston University
- BS, Brain Behavior & Cognitive Science, University of Michigan
- adolescent sexual and reproductive health
- qualitative methods
- community-engaged participatory research
- expectant and parenting youth
- urban youth
- implementation science, program evaluation
Kachingwe O, Lewis Q, Offiong A, Smith BD, LoVette A, Powell TW. (2023). Using the
intervention mapping-adapt framework to adapt an evidence-based sexual health intervention
for youth affected by trauma. BMC Public Health, 23(1) 1052.
Offiong A, Powell TW, Dangerfield DT, Gemmill A, Marcell AV. (2022). Identifying pregnancy intention profiles for U.S. adolescents using National Survey of Family Growth. Journal of Adolescent Health. 71(4), 466–473.
Offiong A, Powell TW, Gemmill A, Marcell AV. (2021). “I can try and plan, but still get pregnant”: The complexity of pregnancy intentions and reproductive health decision-making for adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 90; 95-109.
Marshall B, Powell TW, Offiong A. (2024). Asset-based Approaches for Diverse Populations in Schools. In C. Morphew, V. Jones, & A. Cureton (Eds.), Creating Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Schools (Chapter 4). Johns Hopkins University Press
Offiong A, Tallant J, Rust K, Wulah A, Huang LA, & Dworsky A. (2024). Seven dimensions of access to sexual and reproductive health care for youth. [Research Brief]. Child Trends.
Offiong, A., Mihalec-Adkins, B., Huang, LA., & Dworsky, A. (2025). Exploring the dual experience of parenting during adolescence. [Research Brief]. Child Trends
Offiong, A., Naylon, K., Huang, LA., Beckwith, S., & Scott, M. (2025). Understanding young fatherhood within child welfare and juvenile justice systems. [Research Brief]. Child Trends.
Offiong A, Powell TW, Dangerfield DT, Gemmill A, Marcell AV. (2022). Identifying pregnancy intention profiles for U.S. adolescents using National Survey of Family Growth. Journal of Adolescent Health. 71(4), 466–473.
Offiong A, Powell TW, Gemmill A, Marcell AV. (2021). “I can try and plan, but still get pregnant”: The complexity of pregnancy intentions and reproductive health decision-making for adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 90; 95-109.
Marshall B, Powell TW, Offiong A. (2024). Asset-based Approaches for Diverse Populations in Schools. In C. Morphew, V. Jones, & A. Cureton (Eds.), Creating Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Schools (Chapter 4). Johns Hopkins University Press
Offiong A, Tallant J, Rust K, Wulah A, Huang LA, & Dworsky A. (2024). Seven dimensions of access to sexual and reproductive health care for youth. [Research Brief]. Child Trends.
Offiong, A., Mihalec-Adkins, B., Huang, LA., & Dworsky, A. (2025). Exploring the dual experience of parenting during adolescence. [Research Brief]. Child Trends
Offiong, A., Naylon, K., Huang, LA., Beckwith, S., & Scott, M. (2025). Understanding young fatherhood within child welfare and juvenile justice systems. [Research Brief]. Child Trends.
Email: [email protected]
Address: 3838 SPH I
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
For media inquiries: [email protected]
Address: 3838 SPH I
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
For media inquiries: [email protected]
Areas of Expertise: Community-Based Participatory Research, Health Equity, Racism, Reproductive Health, Urban Health, Women’s Health