Tammy Kahrig

Tammy S. Kahrig, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Manager at Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, where she leads applied research and evaluation projects across public health, education, and social service domains. With more than 30 years of experience in higher education and public sector evaluation, Dr. Kahrig designs and conducts qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies to identify needs, assess program effectiveness, and inform strategic decision-making.

She has directed numerous public health initiatives, including Community Health Needs Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans in collaboration with local health departments, following the NACCHO MAPP 2.0 framework. Her work includes statewide initiatives such as Ohio’s Community Health Worker Workforce Assessment and an evaluation of the state’s COVID-19 response. Dr. Kahrig is trained in the Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework and has completed multiple SROI studies to quantify the social, environmental, and economic impacts of CDC-funded community health worker programs, as well as serving as an evaluator for a HRSA-funded initiative expanding community health workers and peer support specialists in Southeast Ohio.

In addition to her research leadership, Dr. Kahrig has taught graduate-level courses in research methods and evaluation at Clemson University and Wright State University. She has held senior academic and administrative roles at Wright State University, Miami University, Xavier University, and Clemson University, and has contributed to national accreditation efforts through service with the Higher Learning Commission and CAEP. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and a Master of Education from Ohio University and is deeply committed to turning data into actionable insights that improve education and health outcomes for individuals and communities.