Meet Cerella Craig, MPH, Program Manager

My experience and passion are rooted in public health. I hold an MPH from Southern Connecticut State University. I have had an interest in population-based health and health equity since my undergraduate years at UConn. I went into undergrad thinking I wanted to be a doctor, but I found I was a lot more engaged with identifying systemic issues that impact health and wellness.

That interest is what brought me to Yale in 2011. I began as a research assistant at the School of Public Health. I was a research assistant for 12 years at the university and spent most of my time in the Department of Psychiatry engaging mothers in New Haven in research studies to support mental health. I left Yale in 2023 to work as a senior project manager at the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, but I came back in 2025. I now work as a program manager in the Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, where I support Drs. Ania Jastreboff and Richard Kibbey.

My days can be very different depending on the needs of the programs. My role requires flexibility. Dr. Jastreboff’s Y-Weight Center focuses on obesity research, while Dr. Kibbey's lab studies mitochondria and metabolism. Their work is related, but very different. Y-Weight conducts clinical trials. In the Kibbey Lab, they work with mice, islet cells, and lots of fancy machines I’m still learning the names of. On an average day, I’m scheduling meetings and doing the behind-the-scenes work that helps program operations run smoothly. I assist Drs. Kibbey and Jastreboff with managing their very busy schedules and programs, so they can dedicate their time to research and innovation.

I like being able to put the pieces together, so I would say streamlining processes and keeping things organized behind the scenes is what I've really enjoyed. I also like facilitating positive experiences for faculty, staff, students, and guests who engage with Y-Weight and the Kibbey Lab. When I organize a guest lecture, for example, I try to create a curated experience for the guest speaker and the attendees.

In March, I organized and coordinated New York Times medical reporter Gina Kolata’s visit to Yale. Gina visited the university as a Poynter Fellow in Journalism. She’s a two-time Pulitzer finalist. Gina and Dr. Jastreboff’s moderated conversation focused on how society's understanding of obesity has shifted over the past 50 years and on the role of research and science. The talk was a success; it was well attended. During the visit, I was also able to talk to Gina one-on-one. I learned she cares deeply about the people she covers in her stories. In addition to being a skilled journalist, she’s a kind and compassionate person. We’re living in a time that makes you appreciate those qualities in people more than ever.