Reviews

Words from Colleagues, Clients, and Mentees

Dr. Marissa Robinson’s work speaks for itself but so do the people she’s worked with. From mentees and doctoral students to high-level collaborators and public health leaders, her impact is consistent: strategic, compassionate, powerful.

Here’s what they’re saying.

  • "Having Dr. Marissa Robinson speak with my Introduction to Epidemiology students at Spelman College was an exceptional experience. Her presentation challenged students to rethink traditional definitions of success by demonstrating that careers in health and healthcare rarely follow a straight path. Through honest storytelling, practical insights, and genuine vulnerability, she inspired students to embrace resilience, remain open to new opportunities, and trust that their passion and purpose will guide their journey. Her ability to connect with students was remarkable, and the impact of her first visit was so significant that I invited her back to speak a second time. I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Robinson to any organization seeking an engaging, authentic, and inspiring public health leader who leaves audiences feeling empowered long after the conversation ends."

    — Dr. Niketta Womack, Epidemiologist & Data Scientist CDC and Spelman College Environmental and Health Sciences Department Faculty

  • “I had the pleasure of first meeting Dr. Marissa Robinson years ago during a PACHA for the People event in Los Angeles, and her passion for public health was immediately evident. Dr. Robinson demonstrates an unwavering commitment to advancing health equity and supporting communities most impacted by health disparities. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to witness her deliver powerful presentations at numerous conferences. Her messages consistently resonate with community members and have sparked thoughtful, action-oriented conversations. Her work is grounded in both compassion and strategy, making her an invaluable asset to the field. I deeply respect her dedication and am continually inspired by her leadership in public health.“

    — Dr. Leon Maultsby, Social Impact Strategist

  • “My overall experience was great! She has been my mentor throughout pretty much the entirety of my DrPH program. Without her constant accountability, support, and guidance, I know I would not have finished my program nearly on time or as successfully as I did without her. She made sure that I followed up and knew exactly what my program requirements are, and met them, in order to gain the skills that I needed out of my program. She also shared kind words and commiserated with me when I felt so tired of being in school--helping me have the energy to continue and make my way to my pending graduation. ”

    — Dr. Andrea Lowe, CEO of Social Impact Studio Consulting, LLC

  • "Dr. Robinson is an outstanding facilitator who is engaging, energetic, and deeply skilled at creating dynamic programs and presentations in public health. Her expertise, training, and ability to connect with diverse audiences make every session both impactful and inspiring. With a background spanning multiple sectors, she brings a unique perspective that is firmly rooted in community needs and realities. She has successfully led high-impact initiatives that center historically underserved communities, particularly Black women and those affected by HIV. Dr. Robinson’s work reflects a rare combination of lived experience and technical expertise, allowing her to foster meaningful dialogue, spark new ideas, and move groups toward action. Every space she enters is better for her presence."

    — Dr. Hanna Tessema, Director of Health & Wellness Greater Washington Urban League

  • "Dr. Robinson is a staunch advocate for women's health and ending the HIV epidemic. She is a delight to work with in the public health realm. She is working hard to spread awareness about HIV and PrEP in the Black community. She was recently a guest on my podcast where she shared informative insights. I would definitely recommend that she be reached out to for other speaking opportunities."

    — Dr. Erkeda DeRouen, Digital Health Risk Management Consultant & TEDxer

  • "I highly recommend Dr. Marissa Robinson as a change agent, advocate, deliberator, and motivator when it comes to Black Women, HIV and prevention. Her exhaustive research in earlier years laid a strong foundation to mobilize movement in positions she has served such as EHE Health Equity Specialist Lead with the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy and other organizational leadership roles "

    — Dorcas Baker, Regional Coordinator Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

  • "Dr. Robinson joined us in May 2023 during LIV Career Services Federal Health Career Series as a guest speaker. She shared incredible insights on necessary skills for a successful career in the federal government as a public health professional. She understood how to engage with our audience and was also very personable in her delivery. Would highly recommend her for panel discussions and speaking engagements."

    — Olivia Umoren, Founder of LIV Career Services

  • "Dr. Robinson is a highly effective public speaker, content expert, and meeting facilitator. I have worked closely with her on Ending the HIV Epidemic efforts in Louisiana, for which she has proven to be an invaluable resource. Recently, Dr. Robinson was able to present her dissertation research on PrEP and HBCUs for a group of public health practitioners in East Baton Rouge Parish. She also facilitated a high-level meeting with Office of National AIDS Policy, Louisiana Department of Health, City of New Orleans, and community stakeholders. This was an excellent opportunity to create dialogue about the needs of people living with HIV in Louisiana with those at the highest levels of federal public health administration. I look forward to my ongoing professional relationship with Dr. Robinson and will continue connecting her with individuals for whom I believe she will be a resource and leader."

    — Eric D. Johnson, Public Health Consultant

  • “Dr. Robinson is an amazing mentor. From day 1 we went over some of my goals and worked on some mutual action steps to break down those goals. She is very resourceful, charismatic, and truly cares about uplifting and motivating her mentees. This was evident when she consistently would share that our mentor-mentee relationship goes beyond even the program and she is only a call away if needed for support during my career trajectory. Thank you so much Dr. Robinson for everything and for being an outstanding mentor turned friend.”

    — Dr. Samia Hussein, Doctoral Graduate Mercer University

  • "Dr. Robinson was a client of mine while working for HHS HIV prevention and treatment. Working with Marissa was an absolute joy and wonderful experience. I always looked forward to our weekly check-in calls because she has such a great personality and approach to the work. Dr. Robinson has great instincts, is sharp as a tack, and is totally accountable. She's a great problem solver and really never drops a ball. The projects we worked on had a lot of moving parts, and she was always on top of every element!"

    —Anna Jaffee, Director of Public Health Campaigns at Fors Marsh

  • "Dr. Robinson is a compassionate and thoughtful mentor who can provide valuable expertise and insight in public health in the global and domestic space. My journey with her started as a mentor where she was key in helping navigate challenges in the doctoral process and beyond. I’ve have had the absolute pleasure of working with her and look forward to continuing our journey which extends from mentorship to colleagues and friends. "

    — Dr. Anisa Saleh, Doctoral Graduate Boston University

  • “Dr. Robinson is an experienced, enthusiastic public health professional and leader in the field. Her mentorship was key to me as I found my footing in my doctoral program."

    — Justin Garoutte, Doctoral Graduate Johns Hopkins University

  • "Dr. Robinson brings great expertise, knowledge and energy to the team, making an immediate impact upon joining. She has great ideas and input on the work we do and her contributions bring incredible value to the work to do. The fact that she's fun and great to work with is just icing on the cake."

    —Todd Post, Strategic Communications Executive

  • "I love the way Dr. Robinson presents that everything is always laid out comprehensively and we move quickly through a lot of material. Without fail, I always take a few nuggets with me. As always, her energy is infectious and I think she draws the room and online participants in."

    — John Murtha, Healthcare Executive & DrPH Student @ George Washington University

  • "Working with Dr. Robinson as a mentor has been absolutely amazing! Her guidance has played such an instrumental role in my personal and career development. From our very first meeting, Dr. Robinson brought a thoughtful, candid, encouraging, and highly knowledgeable presence that made me eager to continue learning from her. Her mentorship has helped me strengthen my professional skills, expand my connections, set clear goals, further my career, and navigate complex decisions with a sense of purpose. Beyond career advice, Dr. Robinson genuinely cared about my growth as a whole person, which has made a lasting impact."

    — Nata Assad, Clinical Research Coordinator Massachusetts General Hospital

  • "Overall my experience working with Dr. Robinson was one I didn't know I needed until it came along. In a season of such great uncertainty in public health as a whole, but also as I was becoming a public health graduate she was my soundboard and grounding force in all my chaos. I looked forward to our meetings and left feeling rejoiced ready to conquer the world and take charge of my destiny just from her spirit and words of encouragement. She gave her best self despite going through her own things and that kind of dedication and support you can't put a price on."

    — Jasmine Mumpfield, Graduate Assistant Duke University Women’s Center

  • “I had the pleasure of connecting with Dr. Marissa Robinson through a mutual friend and collaborator in health rights and social equity, and I am incredibly grateful for the introduction. As a fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and humanitarian professional preparing to pursue graduate studies in social work and public health, I was eager to learn from someone whose career bridges public health, research, and social impact. Speaking with Dr. Robinson was an invaluable opportunity. She generously shared her experiences, offered thoughtful guidance on evaluating graduate programs, encouraged me to research faculty interests and connect with current students and alumni, and provided practical advice I can apply immediately. “

    — Valeria M. Bembry, Curatorial Activist

  • "As a national CBA provider at AIDS United, I work with many presenters, panelists, and collaborators across the country. When we find people as amazing as Dr. Robinson, we try to work with them as often as possible. She is a dynamic public speaker, knowledgeable, and dependable. Her timeliness with materials is always appreciated and makes our lives less stressful and being able to hear her passion come through as she presents is always a joy. Dr. Robinson's ability to convey her expertise in a way that resonates with and deeply connects with her audience is invaluable in a field where there are so many presentations and webinars that it can be difficult to keep an audience's attention. If you're looking for a speaker, facilitator or collaborator you can trust to not only complete the task without having to worry about it being done on time but also know it will be delivered with knowledgeable expertise and passion, look no further."

    — Daemon Donigan, HIV/STI CBA Specialist & Sexual Health Educator

  • "Dr. Robinson supported me during a transitional and uncertain period in my career when I had been out of the public health workforce and was unsure how to re-enter a highly competitive job market. Her mentorship helped me find my footing again—not just in refining my professional skills, but in rebuilding my confidence. With her guidance, I sharpened my interview techniques, identified my unique value, and felt truly prepared to step back into the field. She offered thoughtful care, honest feedback, and steady encouragement that reminded me of my strength and purpose. I’m incredibly grateful for her support and would highly recommend her mentorship to anyone seeking clarity, professional growth, or a meaningful reset."

    — Tynisha George, Racial and Health Equity Advocate

  • "Working with Dr. Robinson during the Black Fatherhood Blueprint Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 debrief sessions was an impactful experience. She helped our team have meaningful conversations around what was working well, where we could improve, and how we could continue strengthening our initiative. Her facilitation allowed us to brainstorm mission-driven goals and strategies that will support the continued growth and success of the program."

    — Eric Mimms, Program Administrator Greater Washington Urban League

  • "Working with Dr. Robinson has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my doctoral journey. My initial goal was to ensure my dissertation followed a clear roadmap and met all key submission deadlines, and Dr. Robinson’s guidance was instrumental in achieving that. She provided structure, shared her expertise, and helped me identify critical milestones while offering insightful, detailed feedback that strengthened both my research and presentation skills."

    — Dr. Khulud Khudur, CEO & Public Health Epidemiologist

  • "Dr. Robinson’s presence and engagement truly made a significant impact. She translated complex health data into understandable, relatable information and made complex topics accessible to everyone."

    —Jatoya McCrae, Regional Connections Outreach Coordinator- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

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