College of Health Solutions welcomes five new faculty members
With the start of the Spring 2025 semester, the College of Health Solutions welcomed five new faculty members ready to make an impact.
“We are so pleased for another excellent cohort of faculty to be joining the college. Each of these new faculty members brings their unique skills and commitment to training our students and conducting research to promote the health of the communities that we serve and care so much about,” said Interim Dean Michael Yudell.
Ehiremen Adesua Azugbene and Kiara Lyons join the College of Health Solutions as Assistant Professors of maternal and child health.
“We are excited to welcome Ehiremen Adesua Azugbene and Kiara Lyons as new Assistant Professors in the College of Health Solutions. Their background in community-based research in the Phoenix area aligns well with the College of Health Solutions mission and will expand the outreach expertise of the college,” said Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Success Carol Johnston.
Clinical Associate Professors Arlixer Coleman and Kaitlin Sundling will serve as the Program Director and Medical Director of the new Master of Science in Cytology program, respectively. Clinical Assistant Professor Sheaffer Kerbey joins the team of Speech and Hearing Science faculty.
“The College of Health Solutions is thrilled to welcome Dr. Kaitlin Sundling, Arlixer Coleman, and Shaylyn Sheaffer Kerbey, whose expertise and dedication are already making a meaningful impact on our programs, students and the broader health care community. These outstanding faculty members bring exceptional clinical expertise, innovative teaching strategies and a passion for student success. We are excited for their contributions to the College of Health Solutions and look forward to the positive impact they will continue to make in their respective fields,” said Assistant Dean of Faculty Success Sandra Mayol-Kreiser.
Meet our new faculty members
Ehiremen Adesua Azugbene, Ph.D., MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Maternal and Child Health Equity. Azugbene holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Georgia and an MPH from Florida International University. She joined the College of Health Solutions as a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow with the Maternal Child Health Translational Research Team in 2022 and transitioned into a tenure-track faculty position in 2025. Her research addresses key aspects of maternal and child health, focusing on community-engaged and community-based participatory research approaches. With a dedicated focus on underserved populations, Azugbene is particularly committed to advancing maternal healthcare for refugee and immigrant communities.
Arlixer Coleman, Ph.D., CT(ASCP)MBCM, is a Clinical Associate Professor and the Program Director of the M.S. Cytology program. Coleman holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Louisville and a B.S. in environmental sciences from Spelman College. Coleman began her career as a cytologist and has since served in various academic and clinical laboratory leadership roles. Her background encompasses clinical practice, laboratory management, academia and research in private, commercial and large health systems. She is a certified and licensed cytologist and molecular biology technologist licensed through the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Shaylyn Sheaffer Kerbey, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Speech and Hearing Science. Shaylyn holds an M.S. in Communication Disorders from Arizona State University and dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wyoming in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and Spanish. She is an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of acquired neurological disorders. Sheaffer Kerbey’s expertise spans speech, language, cognitive, voice and swallowing disorders, and she is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure comprehensive patient care.
Kiara Lyons, Ph.D., MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Maternal and Child Health Equity who emphasizes community collaboration and community-based participatory research in her work. Lyons holds a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and an MPH from the University of South Florida. She joined the College of Health Solutions as a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow with the Maternal Child Health Translational Research Team in 2023 and transitioned to a tenure-track faculty position in 2025. Her research interest focuses on mental and behavioral health among children and adolescents, with specific interests in MCH equity, positive and adverse childhood experiences and improving fatherhood support in MCH.
Kaitlin Sundling, M.D., Ph.D., is the Medical Director of the new M.S. in Cytology program and a Clinical Associate Professor. She completed her M.D., Ph.D. and pathology residency at University of Wisconsin, and cytopathology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Sundling is excited to bring her years of experience as Medical Director for the University of Wisconsin Cytotechnology program, as well as her love of virtual teaching and learning, to the online M.S. Cytology program. Sundling’s academic interests include digital imaging, machine learning, cancer biomarkers, liquid biopsy and public health.