College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Forestry

Dr. Samantha Gailey

Assistant Professor, Environmental Health Equity

Introducing new faculty member Dr. Samantha Gailey, Assistant Professor, Environmental Health Equity in the Department of Forestry and the Department of Public Health.

Samantha Gailey is an interdisciplinary scientist dedicated to advancing environmental health equity. Her research draws on epidemiology, psychology, and geography to identify place-based causes of health disparities, particularly among mothers and children.

Much of Sam’s work focuses on understanding and addressing inequities in access to greenspace –including parks, street trees, and urban forests – that affect public health. Her research uses innovative and diverse methodological approaches, from community engagement and dynamic ambulatory assessments to “big data” analysis.

Sam holds joint appointments in Forestry and Public Health; she is among MSU’s inaugural class of 1855 Professors, a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of faculty members chosen to promote social and environmental justice on and off campus.

In addition to understanding connections between greenspace and health, Sam’s broader research program explores how structural racism, residential segregation, and neighborhood context perpetuate inequality.

The overarching goal of Sam’s work is to inform policies and interventions to create more equitable, sustainable, and healthier communities in Michigan and beyond.