Gwendolyn S. Roberts Francavillo

Academic Credentials

B.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County
M.P.H., The George Washington University
Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park
Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)

Biography

Dr. Gwendolyn S. Roberts Francavillo is an experienced, tenured Associate Professor of Public Health in the School of Health Sciences at Marymount University. She has taught and conducted research at universities since 1998 with expertise in stress management, public health ethics, wellness, sexuality, and global health. Dr. Francavillo has an interactive teaching approach to make any topic fun and engaging! A professional endeavor of hers is to establish an interest among her students in research methods and theoretical foundation. Dr. Francavillo has a PhD and Master’s degree in Public Health, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). One of her passions is teaching yoga to varied populations for over 20 years and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). She has received funding, published findings, and presented at national conferences. Dr. Francavillo feels her calling is to help others embrace positivity, feel empowered to take responsibility for their own health, and be the best selves they can be!

Teaching Area

• Health Psychology
• Stress Management
• Global Health and Culture
• Public Health Capstone
• Yoga

Research Interests

• Stress Management
• Public Health Ethics
• Sexual Assault

Publications

• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2021). Psychosocial Holistic Stress Management: Innovative Factors and Techniques Associated with a Reduction of Perceived Stress. Presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Public Health Association.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2021). “Soul-utions” for Stress Reduction. Presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Public Health Association.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2021). Health and Immigration Ethics: How Would You Decide? Presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Society for Public Health Education.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2021). Developing an Effective, Interactive Online Intervention to Target Public Health Issues and Risk Behaviors. Presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Society for Public Health Education.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2019, November). Applying an Ethical Decision-Making Framework to Case Studies Involving Public Health Issues and Risk Behaviors. Presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2017). College Students Experience Sexual Assault Disproportionately as a Result of Disparities. Presented at the 2017 annual meeting of the National Wellness Conference, St. Paul, MN.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2017). Educating vulnerable students with evidence-based sexual assault information. Presented at the 2017 Global Perspectives International Conference, Marymount University, Arlington, VA.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2015). Improving prevention and response to sexual misconduct on campus: How the data help us. Presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the American College Health Association, Orlando, FL.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2013). Sexual education, sexual communication, sexual assault knowledge, rape myths, acceptance, and sexual assault experience among deaf and hard of hearing college students. Presented at the 2013 Bridging the Gap Conference, Vancouver, WA.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2013). Sexuality assault knowledge among deaf and hard of hearing college students. Presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, Boston, MA.
• Francavillo, G. S. R. (2010). Sexuality education, sexual communication, rape myth acceptance, and sexual assault experience among Deaf and Hard of Hearing college students. Presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, Denver, CO.