Dr. Teresa Wagner graduated with a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, where she is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Health Administration and Health Policy. She also serves as the Director of the UNTHSC Texas State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center. She's cross-appointed in both the College of Nursing and the College of Health Professions. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics from Texas Christian University and Master’s Degree in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Wagner is a registered and licensed dietitian with a doctorate in public health. She’s certified in Public Health, Patient Safety, Lifestyle Medicine, Health Coaching, and a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor. She has delivered multiple programs, speaking engagements and trainings on health literacy issues. Currently, she teaches Health Literacy & Communication in the College of Public Health and in the Personalized Health & Wellbeing Program. She teaches Patient Safety, Health Coaching, Nutrition and Health Literacy in the College of Nursing. Her research focuses on facilitating communication for both personal and organizational health literacy to improve health outcomes and population health. She’s a sought-after presenter and mentor who works to certify community health workers as conduits to health literacy. As a result of her work, she has received multiple awards and accolades, including the 2018 Texas Health Literacy Hero Award and the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Christian University. In 2023, she received the UNTHSC School of Health Professions Faculty Achievement Award. In 2024, she received the Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award, the Outstanding Dietitian Award from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and a Global Service Award from the International Health Literacy Association.