Shahzadhi Nyakhar received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from DePaul University in 2016 and her Master of Public Health from Boston University in 2018. Prior to coming to UF, Shahzadhi was a Community Health Specialist at the Lake County Health Department where she specialized in HIV and Hepatitis C prevention among individuals in addiction rehabilitation programs. She also served as the health department’s Deputy Operations Chief for COVID-19 Operations where she and her team strategized and executed a plan to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
At UF, Shahzadhi’s research interests include using AI to improve mental health outcomes, social and behavioral change strategies, and healthcare access. She also serves as a TA for several Master of Public Health courses. Shahzadhi is mentored by Dr. Jamie Pomeranz.