our team
Melissa Creary
A few years ago I read the Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisen and it still sits with me today. It is a story about deep resilience through cataclysmic climate & societal events and the importance of belonging to one’s self and others in order to survive. I come to my own stories of resilience and contributions to this center/collaborative/X with the deep love and care of my Caribbean blood-born family and my international multi-racial, multi-generational chosen family from across the globe. I am an interdisciplinary social scientist who has worked with the sickle-cell and bleeding disorder community as a scientist, policymaker, and public health researcher for over 20 years. I use historical, anthropological, and public health methods to create a body of research that centers community voice and helps us understand society’s commitments to justice, science, and belonging. I have written about these things in Social Science & Medicine, BioSocieties, the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, the American Journal of Bioethics, and JAMA Open Network. I have brought my commitments to social justice in health to the boards and advisory councils of 500 Women Scientists, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, the Worldwide Initiative on Social Studies of Hemoglobinopathies, and the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S). The fuel to my engine is a healthy obsession (or so I’ve convinced myself) with my niece, travel, reading fantasy and sci-fi, and anime. I delight in the absurd and fried potatoes hate to see me coming. Any potato, really.
Paul Fleming
I am an Ann Arbor resident--originally from Chicago area--trying to create a better world and community for my three kids. When I’m not spending time chasing around my three small children, I think about, research, teach, and organize around root causes of health inequities and creating supportive systems for a transformed future. I am currently working on a book about the surprising costs of our current public policies and the steps we can take to transform society at the roots. My formal professional title is Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Patricia Mulligan
I’ve spent my professional life supporting organizations in higher education through various administrative roles. I am driven by helping teams make meaningful change in our communities and in the lives of students.
Personally, I am an appreciator and creator of art, cook, crafter, gardener, and an enjoyer of the outdoors by hiking or simply observing. My favorite way to connect is through food, either by cooking for others or by seeking out novel or comforting food experiences together.
Whitney Peoples
I am a southerner in the midwest. Originally from Texas, I was raised by children of the civil rights movement to be deeply committed to matters of justice and fairness. I bring over 20 years of feminist and critical race research, activism, and teaching to my work in higher education. In addition to my work in higher education equity, I am interested in health equity and justice and hold deep commitments to reproductive justice and black feminist health movements. I have worked with organizations such as the Texas Equal Access (TEA) fund; Take Root: Red State Perspectives on Reproductive Justice; The National Women's Studies Association; Birth Center Equity; and 500 Women Scientists. I am a co-founder of the Black Feminist Health Science Studies Collective and co-editor of the book Radical Reproductive Justice: Foundations Theory|Practice Critique. I have an amazing partner, cool kids, and the cutest dog to ever bark or wag a tail! I love crafting, listening to live music and good whiskey (rye over bourbon most days). I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen and believe that making a roux is a love language (iykyk).
Lindsey Thatcher
I’m a public health professional committed to advancing equity, collaboration, and lasting impact. Raised in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area, I’ve built my career working with diverse communities across both local and global settings—from serving with the National Malaria Control Program as a Peace Corps volunteer in The Gambia to supporting refugee and migrant health programs along the U.S.–Mexico border.
I earned my Master of Public Health from the University of Arizona in 2018 as a Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellow. More recently, I led the University of Michigan’s Contact Tracing Corps as part of the COVID-19 response. I’ve served as a research project manager at the School of Public Health since 2022 and became Managing Director of the Collaborative for Transformative Public Health in January 2025.
Outside of work, I find joy in staying active—whether hiking new trails, swimming, playing volleyball, or Latin dancing. I’ve called Grand Rapids, Tucson, and The Gambia home, and I’m always eager to discover new places and experiences. When it’s time to unwind, you’ll find me curled up with a good book, a glass of unsweetened black iced tea, and my big, beloved dog, Apollo, by my side.
Students who contributed to the Collaborative for Transformative Public Health
Wolfgang Bahr
(2021-2022)
Amber Garcia
(2023-2025)
Mah Sui
(2025)
Kimberly Meneses
(2025)