Areas of Expertise
Social safety net
Longitudinal methods
Child nutrition
Food Story
Growing up in a Taiwanese household, food was always more than what she ate—it was a language of love, culture, and care. From the sweet-savory chewiness of oyster omelettes to the bowl of cut fruit signaling the end of a family meal, Marisa’s childhood memories have always been grounded in food.
Her interest in food broadened into a health and systems perspective during her time teaching abroad, where she saw how environments profoundly influence food access and health. Today, Marisa dedicates herself to advancing population health and reducing health inequities through research on federal nutrition assistance programs and the broader social safety net.
Academic History
Ph.D., Epidemiology, University of California, Berkeley, 2025
Dissertation: Social and Nutritional Determinants of Health Across the Life Course: Longitudinal Patterns and Policy Implications
M.S., M.P.H., Food Policy and Applied Nutrition, Tufts University, 2018
B.A., International Relations, University of Southern California, 2014