Biography

Anna Torrens Armstrong, PhD, MPH, MCHES, CPH joined the faculty at the University of South Florida (USF) in the College of Public Health in 2015. She teaches courses in the undergraduate health education minor track. Her research interests include teaching innovation, school-based health services, developmental evaluation and design thinking, collective impact initiatives, military health promotion and resiliency. Anna also serves as adjunct faculty (online) at the Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Advanced Academic Program, Department of Communication.

Anna has held a variety of professional positions within the field of public health, due to frequent relocations as a military spouse, which have included adjunct faculty work at Davenport University and freelance writing. She most recently served as the Director of Evaluation and Innovation for Building Healthy Futures (BHF), in Omaha, Nebraska, where she oversaw all evaluation efforts, communicating the organizational vision for evaluation into reality for external evaluators, program partners and stakeholders. Anna led organizational decision-making by bridging the gap between theory and practice and translating understanding across various professional silos to help build a collective, collaborative framework for increasing access to healthcare for underserved children. Her work with BHF began in 2013 as a faculty member at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Public Health. Her work included guiding program evaluation projects, determining common measures, and serving as a liaison between the College of Public Health and multiple community partners.

Prior to her work with BHF, Anna served as the Health Promotions Flight Health Educator under the 1st Special Operations Aerospace Medical Squadron at Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Florida. She also held various positions with the American Cancer Society, Florida Division including Director of Childhood Cancer Programs, Residential Night Manager of the Benjamin Mendick Hope Lodge and as an advocacy research assistant.

Anna received her BA in International Studies, with a minor in Political Science and a concentration in Communication and Culture from the University of Tampa. She earned her MPH with a concentration in Health Education and Promotion, and her Ph.D. in Public Health at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health. She also has a graduate certificate in Social Marketing in Public Health.

Anna serves on the National School-Based Health Alliance’s Evaluation and Quality Panel and is an active member of the Society for Public Health Education.