Kansas City University welcomes Tanya Honderick as director of the Joplin Campus Center for Population Health and Equity

Kansas City University (KCU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tanya Honderick, MPH, MS, RN, CPH, as the director of the Center for Population Health and Equity (CPHE) on the University’s Joplin, Missouri, campus. A distinguished public health professional with 25 years of experience in public health and nursing, Honderick brings a wealth of expertise in workforce development, strategic leadership and health equity.

She most recently served as the director of the Master of Public Health (KU-MPH) program at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where she led strategic planning, program evaluation and accreditation initiatives for more than15 years. In addition to her administrative leadership, she taught courses focused on student internships and leadership development. Her role also included fostering partnerships at local, regional, and national levels, and implementing innovative curriculum changes to address the evolving needs of the public health workforce.

“Tanya’s extensive experience in public health practice, education and policy aligns perfectly with the mission of the Center for Population Health and Equity,” said Catherine Satterwhite, PhD, MSPH, MPH, executive director of KCU’s CPHE. “Her leadership will strengthen our efforts to address the social and structural factors that create health disparities.”

Honderick’s public health career began in maternal-child health with local health departments in Kansas, where she conducted home visits, performed well-child exams and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address the needs of underserved populations.

Beyond her academic and clinical contributions, Honderick is an active member of the Midwestern Public Health Training Center (MPHTC) regional steering committee, where she plays a key role in advancing systems practice and equity initiatives across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. Her expertise as a public health consultant further enhances her ability to drive impactful programs and policies.

“KCU’s commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities is truly inspiring,” Honderick said. “I look forward to building community partnerships and developing innovative programs and policies to advance population health and equity in Joplin and the surrounding region.”

Honderick holds graduate degrees in public health and nursing from the University of Kansas Medical Center, and she is currently completing a certificate in public policy analysis from the London School of Economics. Her accomplishments have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Kansas Public Health Association President’s Award and a fellowship with the National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health.

The Center will focus on the areas surrounding KCU’s campuses in Kansas City and Joplin, where significant disparities persist and prevent respective underserved urban and rural populations from attaining their full health potential.