Project Leadership

MARK EDBERG, PhD
medberg@saferlatinos.org
Principal Investigator
George Washington University

Mark Edberg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. A cultural anthropologist with a joint appointment in GWU's Department of Anthropology, Professor Edberg is particularly knowledgeable about how poverty and marginalization intersect with key health issues, such as HIV/AIDS, substance use and youth violence. A researcher and consultant with strong interests in theory and in developing and evaluating prevention programs, Dr. Edberg has done field or project work in urban areas of America and in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean and retains a strong interest in immigrant and refugee populations, collaborating closely with organizations in the Hispanic/Latino and Southeast Asian communities. Professor Edberg also has experience in social marketing, mass media and public information, essential tools to avoid the cultural roadblocks that sometimes impede effective communication. As well, he is a working musician and founder of The Furies, a modern rock band that plays original music in the DC area. Dr, Edberg holds a Master of Arts in Political Science/International Relations) from UCLA, a Master of Arts in Applied Anthropology from American University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Cultural Anthropology) from the University of Virginia. Dr. Edberg is currently principal investigator on SAFER LATINOS, a CDC grant exploring community factors related to violence in the Washington-area Latino community; co-principal investigator on an evaluation of a project intended to prevent sexual exploitation; and a community assessment evaluator on an HIV/AIDS and TB-related effort.
Dr. Edberg has also had a series of projects (with a research consulting organization) developing and implementing evaluation systems and practices for the U.S. Office of Minority Health (DHHS), and, more recently, developing a strategic framework for eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in health. He has also conducted research for other Federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and has served as a consultant to domestic and international organizations.

The SAFER Latinos Project Team clockwise from back row, left, Ivonne Rivera, Elizabeth Collins, Saché Cantu, Alex Taylor del Cid, Melba Calderón, Gabriel Albornoz, Mark Edberg, Rodrigo Leiva