Leah Mayo
Assistant Dean for Community Engagement and Health Equity
Leah Mayo currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Community Engagement and Health Equity at UNC Wilmington’s College of Health and Human Services. During her tenure at UNCW, she has served as the Center for Healthy Communities Coordinator, North Carolina Public Health Training Center Co-Director, a Diversity and Inclusion Fellow, part time public health faculty, and a University College First Year Advisor. In her current role, Leah fosters community-campus partnerships to help address community needs, improve well-being, and expand applied learning opportunities. Prior to UNCW, she worked at local health departments, where she developed a strong foundation and passion for improving the built environment and addressing the social determinants of health. Leah has led or co-led several externally funded projects, focusing on topics such as nature-based solutions, community engagement, public health workforce development, and COVID-19 response efforts. She serves on numerous boards, councils, and task forces to advance public health across the state, including as Past President of the North Carolina Public Health Association, Past President of the North Carolina Society of Public Health Education, a Healthy North Carolina 2030 task force member, the current New Hanover County Health & Human Services Board Chair, and a North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation site visitor. Leah received her undergraduate degree from UNC Wilmington, a Master of Public Health from East Carolina University, and is credentialed as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist.
Education
B.S. in Community Health Education, UNCW | MPH, East Carolina University | MCHES
Professional Service
North Carolina Public Health Association, 2012-Present
Immediate Past President, 2022-2023
President, 2021-2022
President-Elect, 2020-2021
Program Committee Chair
Vice President & Public Awareness Chair, 2019-2020
Co-founder, BIPOC Caucus, 2021
Chair, Young Professionals Caucus, 2015-2021
Founder, Young Professionals Caucus, 2015
Membership & Outreach Committee Chair, 2014-2019
North Carolina Society for Public Health Education, 2018-Present
Co- Past President, 2021-2022
Co-President, 2020-2021
Co-President-Elect, 2019-2020
Co-Vice President & Program Chair, 2018-2019
Eastern District North Carolina Public Health Association, 2018-Present
American Public Health Association, 2015-Present
Food Bank Central & Eastern NC Regional Council, Board Member, 2024 – Present
Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan Technical Steering Committee , Member, Public Health Expert, 2023 – Present
United way of the Cape Fear Area Board of Directors, Member, 2023-Present
Lower Cape Fear Life Care Health Equity Advisory Council, Member, 2023-Present
New Hanover County Department of Health & Human Services Board, Board Chair, 2023-Present, Member at Large, Wilmington, NC, 2022-Present
Honors & Awards
James F. Merritt Million Dollar Club Inductee, 2021, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Diversity and Inclusion Fellow, 2020 –2022, University of North Carolina Wilmington | Project: Youth Photovoice: Community & Resilience
Distinguished Service Award, 2018 , North Carolina Public Health Association