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Dr. Ismatara Reena is an Assistant Professor and Graduate Coordinator at UL Lafayette’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 ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ development.

Since joining UL Lafayette 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 ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs 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 Lafayette.
As Graduate Coordinator, she promotes academic rigor, inclusivity, and ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ-centered leadership. Her work is grounded in preparing the next generation of scholars and public health professionals.

EdD- Doctorate in Educational Leadership
Lamar ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ, 2018

MS in Health Promotion
Lamar ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ, 2012

MS in Food and Nutrition
Lamar ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ, 2010

MBBS
Rajshahi ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ,  Bangladesh, 1999

Public health issues affecting marginalized populations (women, international ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs, 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 ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs. 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 ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs 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, ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ at Lafayette, Fall 2020"