Kayla Varney, MPH

Kayla graduated with her Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Kent State University in 2022. Prior to this, she graduated from KSU in 2021 with a bachelors in Psychology, and a bachelors in Criminology and Justice Studies. She began working in the Center for Public Policy and Health in 2019 as a volunteer, and is now a Research Associate working on a Medication-Assisted Treatment Project to expand substance use treatment services in rural Southeastern Ohio. Kayla has an extensive background working with mental health. She helped to establish the Center's Student Mental Health Coalition, and Kent's own Active Minds chapter. Kayla is a certified QPR and Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and also serves as the advisor to the Kent State Active Minds chapter. Additionally, Kayla serves as the Training Coordinator for the Center's NEO MHAT grant, and is a Flashes 101 instructor. She received the Golden Flash Award from the Alumni Association in 2020.