Dr. Roess is a professor of Global Health and Epidemiology at George Mason University's College of Public Health in the Washington DC area. She is an epidemiologist with expertise in infectious diseases epidemiology, multi-disciplinary and multi-species field research and evaluating interventions to reduce the transmission and impact of infectious diseases. Her recent publications include the first serosurvey of many zoonotic diseases (Jordan), developing a One Health workforce (Egypt), the use of mobile devices such as mobile phones to boost surveillance and reduce health/breastfeeding disparities, and the impact of hurricanes on mortality and food aid. 

Dr. Roess holds a PhD in global disease epidemiology and control from Johns Hopkins University.  Her current studies are in the US, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Roess served as the Science Director for the Pew Commission on Industrial Food Animal Production at Johns Hopkins, and was an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer at the CDC.  She has served as consultant for the United States Agency for International Development, the World Bank, and Westat Inc.  She has a master degree from the UMDNJ/ Rutgers University School of Public Health.