Dr. Kelly Wheeler is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and a public health practitioner and scholar with more than 25 years of experience across nonprofit and academic sectors. Guided by a Christian worldview, her work emphasizes holistic, root-cause prevention approaches that support whole-person health—body, mind and spirit—particularly among vulnerable populations. Her dissertation research employed Photovoice to amplify lived experience while examining ways to improve the quality of life of adults with Crouzon Syndrome who have endured years of facial reconstruction.
Dr. Wheeler has served as adjunct faculty at Concordia University, Nebraska since 2013 within the Health and Human Performance Department, where she teaches a range of MPH 500–level courses in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, including global health. Through this work, she has led students on international mission trips to Haiti, Belize and Guatemala, partnering with local communities to drill water wells and build sustainable knowledge and capacity related to sanitation, nutrition and health practices that improve health and quality of life for vulnerable populations. These experiences reflect her commitment to servant leadership and to sharing Christ’s love in tangible, life-giving ways through public health education and service.
Dr. Wheeler holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Concentration in Communications from the University of Houston Clear Lake, a Master of Public Health, Community Health Education and Promotion from Walden University and a Ph.D. in Public Health, Community Health Education and Promotion from Walden University.
Her scholarship and practice are grounded in participatory action research and qualitative methodologies that promote culturally responsive, community-engaged health education. Dr. Wheeler maintains active professional involvement with the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners, the The Nutrition Network, the Low Carb Action Network, and the Independent Medical Alliance. Her research interests include integrative health, nutrition, qualitative research methods, Photovoice, participatory action research, grounded theory, quality of life exploration, disability research, women’s health, child and adolescent health, chronic and infectious diseases, international health, and the influence of culture, beliefs, and social context on health behaviors and outcomes.
When not engaged in professional responsibilities, Kelly and her husband, Marcus, are active members of Brilliant Church. Together, they enjoy serving through mission work across the United States and internationally and are involved in ministries that encourage individuals to embrace their God-given identity in Christ and step confidently into His calling for their lives.
Dr. Kelly Wheeler's Academic Programs
Graduate
Public Health
The master’s in public health online program from Concordia University, Nebraska equips you with the skills to promote and protect the health of individuals and communities. Taught by diverse faculty who are experts in the field, our program explores the development, implementation and assessment of the health strategies used for education, health promotion and disease prevention.