​Dr. ​Raegan Tuff is a licensed and ordained minister, scholar, and author whose work brings together theology, public health, and leadership to help individuals, congregations, and communities live healthier, purpose-fueled lives. Through research, teaching, and service, she is committed to promoting whole-person wellness, lifelong learning, and faithful leadership.

 

Dr. Tuff serves as Associate Pastor at The Way, The Truth, and The Life Christian Center, Inc. (TWTLCC) in Decatur, Georgia, where she provides leadership and strategic support for the Diadem Women’s Ministry and discipleship initiatives across the lifespan. Throughout her years of ministry, she has served in a variety of roles, including digital ministry leader, youth ministry instructor, and young adult choir member. She has also participated in international ministry through service in Ukraine, Sierra Leone, and Zona Maya, Mexico. Her theological work is grounded in practical theology, spiritual formation, womanist thought, and public health, exploring how faith communities cultivate practices of communal care that respond faithfully to the people they serve. ​

 

Professionally, Dr. Tuff provides scientific leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where her work addresses chronic disease prevention, program evaluation, and population health impact. She has supported national public health emergency responses, including the Ebola and Zika epidemics, and has contributed to initiatives addressing heart disease, cancer, obesity, physical activity, HIV, and sexual assault prevention.​

 

Dr. Tuff also serves as adjunct faculty in the Master of Public Health Program at Morehouse School of Medicine and has taught and supported graduate public health education at the University of New England and the University of Georgia. Her doctoral research employed narrative methodology to examine how race, gender, class, and social context shape Black women’s physical activity experiences across the life course, reflecting her commitment to scholarship that centers Black women's voices and wisdom to inform more faithful and effective approaches to health and well-being. ​

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Her scholarship has been published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Vaccine, Reflective Practice, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, and the Handbook of African American Health: Social and Behavioral Interventions. She has presented her work at regional and national conferences in both public health and theology.​

 

She is also the author of I Am Sure of This Fact, a faith-based children’s book and activity guide that nurtures confidence, identity, and faith in young girls through biblical affirmations.​ Through her blog, In MyVoice, she shared reflections drawn from lived experience, attentive listening, and the ways God speaks to her every day.

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Dr. Tuff is a member of the Delta Omega National Public Health Honor Society, the American Public Health Association, the American Evaluation Association, and Leadership Women America.

She also served on the Executive Committee of the University of Georgia Alumni Board of Directors, where she provided leadership for affinity, student, and young alumni engagement, and was a founding member of the UGA College of Public Health Alumni Board.​​

 

Her leadership and service have been recognized through national and local honors, including the President’s Volunteer Service Award, CDC/ATSDR Honor Awards for Excellence in Information Technology and Excellence in Emergency Response, the Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award, and recognition as one of the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Alumni Association's 40 Under 40.  

 

Dr. Tuff earned a Ph.D. in Health Promotion and Behavior from the UGA College of Public Health, a Master of Public Health (M.P.H) in Social and Behavioral Science from Morehouse School of Medicine, and a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University. She is currently a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) candidate at McAfee School of Theology. In addition to her academic preparation, her ministerial formation includes Timothy Training at TWTLCC, Inc; the RISE Mentorship Network for Women of Color in Ministry at Union Theological Seminary; the Circle of SacredFire; the Joe R. Engle Institute of Preaching Fellowship; and the Black Theology Leadership Institute (BTLI) at Princeton Theological Seminary.​

 

Whether preaching, teaching, mentoring, writing, or advancing public health initiatives, Dr. Tuff seeks to bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ by equipping individuals, congregations, and communities to live with faith, purpose, and wholeness. Guided by her personal philosophy to pray faithfully, learn continuously, teach generously, and live well, she believes faithful leadership is expressed through humble service, wisdom, and Christ-like love in action.