É«ÃÃAV

Dr. Ismatara Reena is an Assistant Professor and Graduate Coordinator at UL É«ÃÃAV’s School of Kinesiology. With a background in medicine, nutrition, public health, and educational leadership, she brings an interdisciplinary lens to health education, graduate advising, and student development.

Since joining UL É«ÃÃAV in 2020, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses and integrates evidence-based teaching in hybrid and online formats. As a thesis mentor and advisor, she encourages students to present and publish. Her research interests are mental health, substance use, eHealth literacy, and breastfeeding, published in multiple journals and presented at conferences. Dr. Reena is a CHES Certified member of APHA, LPHA, ACHA, SWCHA, CUR, and Secretary of the Zonta Club of É«ÃÃAV.
As Graduate Coordinator, she promotes academic rigor, inclusivity, and student-centered leadership. Her work is grounded in preparing the next generation of scholars and public health professionals.

Doctorate in Educational Leadership, 2018
Lamar University

M.S. in Health Promotion, 2012
Lamar University

M.S. in Food and Nutrition, 2010
Lamar University, 

M.B.B.S., 1999
Rajshahi University,  Bangladesh

• Public health issues affecting marginalized populations (women, international students, etc),
• Mental health
• Mental health literacy
• eHealth literacy
• Physical activity
• Breastfeeding
• Substance use
• Social determinants of health

• Mumu, S. H., & Reena, I. (2025). Physical Literacy and Perceived Benefit of Quarantine Physical Activity among University Students. Dialog in Health (Submitted: Submission ID#DIALOG-D-25-00337)
• Mumu, S. H., Foloruns. T., Badu, J. P. Hassa, N. F., & Reena. I. (2025). Post-reform cannabis use and major depressive episode: A naturalistic investigation. Journal of Contemporary Studies in Epidemiology and Public Health, 6(1), ep25001. https://doi.org/10.29333/jconseph/16127
• Reena, I. & Mumu, S. H. (2024). Trajectories of Marijuana Use, and Co-Occurring Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder among Adolescents in the United States. Global Research Journal, 7, 70-84. DOI: 10.57259/GRJN4514
• Hebert, E., Jeon, K., Wood, R., Reena, I., Hey, W., Hickey, S., Noll, K., Peevy, A., Reynolds, J., & Thomas, P. (2024). Studying U.S. College Faculty during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perceptions of Severity, Concerns, Sources of Information, Preventive Behaviors, Barriers to Work Performance, and Impact on Work Productivity. Pedagogical Research, 9(1), Article No: em0175.  https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/13885
• Reena, I., Hebert, E., Das, K. P., Dipti, S. M., Gope, N. C., & Doe, R. (2023). Anxiety and depression among U.S. international students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Education, 143(3), 89-99.
• Hebert, E., Wood, R., Jeon, K., & Reena, I. (2022). Faculty making the emergency online transition during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effects of prior online teaching experience and strategies used to learn to teach online. Higher Learning Research Communications 12, 4. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef].
• Hernandez, B. L., Reena, I., Strickland, G., & Ruiz, C. (2015). The impact of infant feeding methods on childhood obesity/overweight levels of children at age 2, 3, and 4 years. Global Journal of Health Education and Promotion, 16(2), 1 – 17.
• Reena, I., Ruiz, C. S., Shows, A. R., & Wallet-Chalambaga, K. A. (2014). Breastfeeding Promotion in an Ethnically Diverse Adolescent Sample. International Journal of Nursing.

• KNES Outstanding Faculty of the Year 2023-2024
• Rising Star Award Winner, 2022-2023
• Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award Nomination, 2020-2021
• Appointment to Graduate Faculty, University of Louisiana at É«ÃÃAV, Fall 2020