Jessi Hanson-DeFusco, PhD, Brings Global Vision to LTU’s New Doctor of Health Sciences Program
When Jessi Hanson-DeFusco walks into the classroom, her students learn more than theory.
They learn transformation.
A global public policy scholar, humanitarian, and educator, DeFusco brings a world of experience to her newest role at Lawrence Technological University, where she will teach in the new Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) program within the College of Health Sciences.
Her mission is as bold as her background: Prepare future leaders to understand and change health policy—guided by evidence, empathy, and a pursuit for human rights.
“Policy is more than politics,” DeFusco said. “Policy affects every aspect of the lives of people, their quality of life, rights afforded them, and ensuring their dignity. My courses are designed especially to teach and empower my students to understand the world of policy and how they can play a meaningful role in ensuring change through their careers.”
From Global Humanitarian to LTU Innovator
DeFusco’s journey to LTU is rooted in service and impact. A former Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic, she has spent two decades working across Latin America, West Africa, and South Asia, helping communities navigate crises and rebuild stronger systems.
Her international development work has taken her to Guatemala, Liberia, Zambia, India, and beyond, partnering with ministries of health, education, and child protection to strengthen programs for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
During the Ebola outbreak in Liberia from 2014-2016, she served on the front lines, coordinating programs for survivors and their families funded by UNICEF, DFiD, and USAID.
“That experience taught me what the real face of resilience looks like,” she said. “It is not just surviving. It’s creating hope and building a sense of community support in the face of utter loss.”
Scholarship with a Global Conscience
Armed with a PhD in International Development and Public Policy from the University of Pittsburgh, an EdM in International Education Policy from Harvard University, and a BA in English Education and ESL-Spanish from Colorado State University, DeFusco blends rigorous research with deep humanity.
Her academic work explores how health policy and governance can better serve those affected by inequity, crisis, and limited access to care. She has published and presented globally on psychosocial health after epidemics, gender-based violence, and neocolonialism in development practices.
“We need to design health systems that are as compassionate as they are effective,” she said. “That’s what I hope to instill in LTU’s future health leaders.”
Shaping the Future of Health Sciences at LTU
In the DHSc program, DeFusco will teach courses on how to conduct research, connect public policy, leadership, and global health systems, giving doctoral students the tools to understand—and influence—the complex forces shaping healthcare delivery in the 21st century.
Her approach is immersive, interdisciplinary, and relentlessly student-centered.
“The DHSc program at LTU is not just about earning a credential,” she said. “It’s about becoming a catalyst for ethical, evidence-based change. My goal is to help our students lead with integrity and imagination.”
She also mentors students beyond the classroom, helping them define their purpose, develop career pathways, and cultivate global perspectives through international collaboration and applied research opportunities.
A Leader Beyond the Classroom
DeFusco’s impact extends well beyond LTU’s campus. She serves as Co-Program Chair of the Human Rights Section and At-Large Member of the LGBTQ+ and Global Health Sections of the International Studies Association, and as President of Harvard Alumni for Education, where she advocates for inclusive and quality learning worldwide.
She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Center for Rehabilitation of Survivors of Acid and Burns Violence (CERESAV), and continues to consult with Renewed Energy Serving Humanity (RESH) in Liberia, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to global health and social justice.
“Whether in a rural village, refugee camp, or a doctoral seminar, I see my role the same way,” she said. “To listen deeply, learn collaboratively, and lead with compassion.”
Mentoring Changemakers
At LTU, she encourages future health professionals to think globally and act locally, equipping them to confront issues like health equity, global pandemics, and community resilience through informed, ethical leadership. Ultimately, her work at LTU—and across the globe—comes back to one principle: policy as a path to human dignity.
Her vision for the DHSc program is to train scholars and practitioners who understand public policy isn’t abstract. It’s a living framework that determines who has access to care, who has opportunity, and who has a voice.
“If we want a healthier world,” she said, “we have to start by building fairer systems, and that begins with education.”
By: Ted Coutilish
