Anika Chanell Thrower

Anika Chanell Thrower earned her B.S. in consumer science/nutrition from Norfolk State University and both her MPH and Ph.D. in public health and community health from Walden University. Dr. Thrower served in Women, Infants, and Children’s (WIC) programs nationwide for over 16 years as a health practitioner. Her most valued experiences include serving within a Native American community and the first WIC program in Connecticut. Because of her background, service, and research, she has expertise in utilizing the transtheoretical behavioral health model in underrepresented populations. Serving as a principal researcher and endorsed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, she completed research within a sample of a WIC clinic investigating health-based variables steeped in VENA. Because of the high quality of her research, she won the Presidential Alumni Research Dissemination Award within her institution of higher learning. Dr. Thrower has published several peer-reviewed scholarly articles. Appointed by the mayor, she co-chaired the New Haven Food Policy Council. Along with others, Dr. Thrower’s expertise led to the establishment of the city’s first Food Action Plan. She serves as an Assistant Professor within the Health Education department at City University of New York-Borough of Manhattan Community College. Before her current position, Dr. Thrower taught at Springfield College and Southern Connecticut State University. She teaches coursework in stress management and community health education rooted in culturally responsive pedagogy. Dr. Thrower’s research interests include investigating mental health, stress, and food security issues that adversely affect the quality of life of women and other members of underrepresented populations. Long-standing, she advocates maternal and child health issues and raising social awareness around health inequalities. As exemplified in her book entitled The Art of Dominating the Winner’s Circle of the College-Minded Student, she seeks ways to close gaps in obtaining higher education attainment.

Publications

Autoethnographic Tactics to Closing the Gap on Educational Attainment
Autoethnographic Tactics to Closing the Gap on Educational Attainment
Anika Chanell Thrower, Alex Evangelista, Ruth Baker-Gardner, Hammed Mogaji. © 2024. 258 pages.
The history of education attainment in underrepresented populations, the education gap, undereducation, and socio-economic status have a multitude of cumulative causes, that must...
A Scholar's Dance to Higher Ground
A Scholar's Dance to Higher Ground
Anika C. Thrower. © 2022. 26 pages.
The chapter shares pivotal points of Dr. Thrower's life depicted as a particular dance. The chapter anchors itself into a brief look into her formative years. She shares her...