Melissa Little, PhD, MPH

LEAD PROJECT INVESTIGATOR

Director, Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Research Cancer Control and Population Health, UVA Cancer Center 

Department of Public Health Sciences 

Dr. Melissa Little is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia and a member of the University of Virginia Cancer Center. Dr. Little’s research focuses on developing, evaluating and translating evidence-based health behavior and disease prevention interventions for underserved populations. Dr. Little’s research portfolio focuses on reducing cancer health disparities in Appalachia through interventions to reduce health risk behaviors, namely tobacco use, and promote vaccines and cancer screenings. She also has a line of research focusing on promoting healthy behaviors among active duty military, retirees and dependents (i.e., family members).

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Dylan Allanson
MPH, RD

RESEARCH SPECIALIST INTERMEDIATE

Dylan Allanson obtained both his bachelor’s and MPH degree from Virginia Tech and has made rural public health the center of his career in research and in practice. He currently works as a member of Dr. Melissa Little’s research team as a Research Specialist-Intermediate. While he serves as the study coordinator for Dr. Little’s, VergeRx, he is eager to contribute to QuitAid as a Quitline Counselor.  

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Abigail Wester, MPH

RESEARCH SPECIALIST

Abbey Wester earned her MPH from the University of Virginia and works as a Research Specialist under the direction of Dr. Little. Focused primarily on the development and implementation of interventions to aid in tobacco use cessation and prevention among medically underserved communities, she helps recruit participants, conduct literature reviews, code, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data, write IRB proposals, and collect data as a member of Dr. Melissa Little’s research team.

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Hayley Wood, PharmD, MBA, CTTS

PHARMACIST MANAGER IN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY PHARMACY IN GREENSBORO, NC

Hayley Wood is an independent pharmacy manager and Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist with over 20 years of pharmacy experience. Dr. Wood has extensive experience in serving rural populations, and served as a pharmacy consultant in Dr. Little’s QuitAid pilot study. Her education includes an undergraduate degree in Biology from Peace College, a MBA from UNC-G, and a Pharm-D from Wingate University. 

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Leslie Gladney
MS, CCRC

RESEARCH SPECIALIST SENIOR

Leslie Gladney is the Research Leader in support of Dr. Little’s lab. She has extensive research experience in the departments of public health sciences, neurology, radiology and medical imaging, psychology, and African American studies at prestigious research and medical institutions. Her background entails working with underserved populations, stroke patients, military service members, veterans, and their family members. She obtained her graduate degree in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Georgia. 

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Jasmine Kauffeld
MPH Student

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Jasmine Kauffeld completed her BS in Health Sciences at James Madison University and is currently working towards completing her Master of Public Health degree at the University of Virginia. Under the direction of Dr. Little, Jasmine works as a Research Assistant with a focus in tobacco cessation treatment and prevention. Some of her job roles within the lab include the collection, inputting, and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data for the tobacco prevention studies and facilitating communication with patients and participants for enrollment and follow up procedures. 

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Ashley Babcock
MPH

RESEARCH SPECIALIST INTERMEDIATE

As a member of Dr. Melissa Little’s research team, Ashley Babcock works within the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia. Her focus is the development and delivery of community-based tobacco prevention and control interventions across a range of populations. As a Tobacco Treatment Specialist, she serves the QuitAid team as a Quitline Counselor and assists with data collection, management, and analysis. She earned her Master’s in Public Health from Eastern Virginia Medical School and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience, with a special interest in addiction.

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Ethan Jakum
MPH

RESEARCH SPECIALIST INTERMEDIATE

Ethan earned both his master’s in public health and bachelor’s in human biology from the University of Virginia. On Dr. Little’s team, Ethan works on QuitAid and VergeRx as a Research Specialist, Quitline Counselor, patient recruiter, and data analyst. In his clinical work and his research work, Ethan is dedicated to reducing the social determinants of health in rural Virginia.

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