Michele Mouttapa, PhD, MA

Michele Mouttapa, PhD, MA

Dean, Master of Public Health

Biography

Dr. Michele Mouttapa is the Dean of Public Health at West Coast University. She arrived at WCU from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in 2022 after 16 years of service as a Professor of Public Health. Dean Mouttapa has taught statistics and research methods for both undergraduate and graduate students. She has also been the faculty chair for dozens of MPH culminating research projects and theses, many of which have resulted in peer-reviewed publications.

As MPH Coordinator at CSUF, Dean Mouttapa led the Council on Education for Public Health self-study and site visit in 2013, which resulted in a seven-year accreditation. She is utilizing this experience to seek accreditation for the WCU MPH program. Her own research examines psychosocial factors in underserved communities that contribute to a variety of outcomes including substance use, cancer, and obesity.

From 2008 to 2015, Dean Mouttapa was Editor of the Californian Journal of Health Promotion, which is an indexed, open-access peer-reviewed journal. She also has years of experience helping students interested in any health profession to gain acceptance into post-graduate health professional schools, including medical school. Dean Mouttapa earned her B.S. in psychology from University of California, Davis; her M.A. in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton; and her Ph.D. in preventive medicine, health behavior research from the University of Southern California.

In her time outside of academics, Dean Mouttapa is an avid tennis player who captains league tennis teams and competes at the local and national levels. Her husband is a tennis coach, and her two children are tennis enthusiasts as well. She also enjoys gardening and sharing her citrus fruits with others.

Publications

Mouttapa, M., Cunningham, M., & Tanjasiri, S.P. (2021). Awareness of and support for HPV vaccination among Pacific Islander women in Southern California. Journal of Cancer Education. Available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-021-01965-9

Tanjasiri, S.P., Mouttapa, M., Sablan-Santos, L., Weiss, J.W., Chavarria, A., DeGuzman Lacsamana, J., Quitugua, L., Schmidt-Vaivao, D., Tui`one May, V., & Tupua, M. (2019). Design and outcomes of a community-based intervention trial to increase Pap Testing among Pacific Islander Women. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 28, 1-8..

Mouttapa, M., & Wallace, S.P. (2017). Comparisons between married and never married women on frequencies of food and beverage consumption: Implications for health. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 80-85.

Lemus, B.A., Mercado, F., Bryars, T., Mouttapa, M., Conkey, T., & Robertson, T. (2016). Reflections regarding the social ecological model to address obesity in southern California youth. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 14(3), 64-69.

Weiss, J.W., Mouttapa, M., Sablan-Santos, L., DeGuzman Lacsamana, J., Quitugua, L., & Tanjasiri, S.P. (2016). Decision making for Pap testing among Pacific Islander women. Health Education Research, 31(6), 792-802.

Mouttapa, M., Corliss, C., Bryars, T., Khatib, D., Napoli, J., Patterson, D., & Ross, B. (2016). A preliminary evaluation of a cost-effective, in-class physical activity and nutrition education intervention for 3rd-6th grade students. Health Behavior and Policy Review, 3(3), 248-258.

Mouttapa, M., Tanjasiri, S.P., Weiss, J.W., Sablan-Santos, L., DeGuzman Lacsamana, J., Quitugua, L., Flores, P., Flores, P., Paige, C., May, V.T., Tupua, M., Schmidt-Vaivao, D., Taito, P., Vaikona, E., & Vunileva, I. (2016). Associations between women’s perceptions of their husbands’/partners’ social support and Pap screening, in Pacific Islander communities.  Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 28(1), 61-71.

Tanjasiri, S.P., Weiss, J.W., Santos, L., Flores, P., Flores, P., DeGuzman Lascamana, Paige, C., Mouttapa, M., Quitugua, L., Taito, P., Tui’one May, V., Tupua, M., & Vaivao, E. (2015). CBPR-informed recruitment and retention adaptations in a randomized study of Pap testing among Pacific Islanders in southern California. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 9(3), 389-396.

Napoli, J., Mouttapa, M., & Davis, S. (2015). Neighborhood poverty characteristics of pertussis cases among young children in San Bernadino County, CA, in 2010-2011. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 13(3), 46-54.

Weiss, J.W., Yepiz, M.H., Mouttapa, M., McMahan, S., & Gedissman, A. (2015). A Community Clinic-based Approach to Address Pediatric Obesity among a Predominantly Latino Sample of Youth Enrolled in a State Health Plan. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 13(2), 74-84.

Miller, T., Chandler, L., & Mouttapa, M. (2015). A needs assessment, development, and formative evaluation of a health promotion smartphone application for college students. American Journal of Health Education, 46, 207-215.

Mullapudi, S., Mouttapa, M., & McMahan, S. (2015). Factors linked to energy conservation practices, recall of energy conservation messages, and stair use among university students. Indian Journal of Energy, 3(1), 148-153.

Turel, O., Donato, E., & Mouttapa, M. (2015). Preventing problematic internet use through video-based interventions: A theoretical model and empirical test. Behavior & Information Technology, 34, 349-362.

Fitzpatrick, V., Mouttapa, M., Tanjasiri, S.P., & Napoli, J. (2014).  Predictors of women’s emergency contraception use and men’s support of partner’s use among college students. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 12(2), 78-89.

Batista, A., Mouttapa, M. Wallace, S., & McMahan, S. (2014). Empieza con Fuerza Tu Día (Kick Start Your Day): A comic book designed to increase knowledge about healthy eating habits among Latino families. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 12(2), 99-106.

Presentations

Mouttapa, M., & Njoku, L. (2020). Goodies from the NAAHP Sack: Optimizing Use of AAMC “Advisor Only” Information to Dispell the “State School Stereotype.” Virtual presentation given at the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Mouttapa, M., & Chrisakis, A., (2018). Committee letter preparation: Pros, cons, and an efficient process utilized in a large public university. Oral presentation given at the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions Conference, Washington DC

Cruz, S., Mouttapa, M., & Bryars, T. (2018). Examining perceptions after implementation of the Smarter Lunchrooms Model among K-8 students. Oral presentation given at the 69th Society for Public Health Education Conference, Colombus, Ohio.

Tanjasiri, S.P., Sablan-Santos, L., Mouttapa, M., Weiss, J.W., & DeGuzman Lacsamana, J. (2016). Outcomes of a social support intervention to increase Pap testing among Pacific Islanders in southern California. Poster presentation given at the 9th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Bryars, T., & Mouttapa, M. (June 2015). Healthy communities initiative: Move More Eat Healthy campaign. Poster presentation given at the 8th Biennial Obesity Conference, San Diego, California.

Miller, T., Chandler, L., & Mouttapa, M. (April 2015). Creating, implementing, and evaluating a health promotion smartphone application among college students. Poster presentation given at the 66th Annual Society for Public Health Education Conference, Portland, Oregon.

Young, N., Mercado, F., & Mouttapa, M. (February 2015). Fit Kid Center: Children’s enjoyment of physical activity. Oral presentation given at the 29th Annual CSUF Student Research Competition.

Maitlen, C., Gee, A., & Mouttapa, M. (February 2015). Healthy Achievers’ Challenge: A physical activity and nutrition based community weight loss program targeting low income women living in Orange County, CA. Oral presentation given at the 29th Annual CSUF Student Research Competition.