Biography - Mary Lober Aquilino, MSN, PhD

Dr. Aquilino received her master’s degree in nursing and family nurse practitioner certificate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982. In 1993, she earned a PhD in instructional design/health sciences education from The University of Iowa, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in nursing from the UI in 1996-97. She has been a faculty member in the College of Public Health since 2002. Dr. Aquilino is currently a clinical associate professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health and is assistant dean and director of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program in the College of Public Health.

As assistant dean and director of the MPH program, she directs and oversees the MPH program and its processes, including recruitment, admissions, orientation, and academic advising; works with departments, colleges, and Iowa Regents institutions to coordinate MPH focus areas, subtracks, and dual and joint degrees; assures the quality of educational programs; and represents the college nationally in MPH program development.

Dr. Aquilino also serves as the director of the Iowa Tobacco Research Center, which is dedicated to innovative research and education in tobacco use and prevention. The ITRC's efforts are focused on the areas of cessation, intervention research, population research, and education.

Dr. Aquilino’s areas of research interest include smoking cessation, unintended pregnancy prevention, and youth risk behaviors.