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Dr. Vincent Chirimwami, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator – Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Chirimwami leads the firm’s daily operations and supervises senior and clinical researchers, including the business manager. As a principal investigator (PI) and methodologist (quantitative and qualitative), Dr. Chirimwami develops research designs, evaluation processes, and implementation effectiveness of evidence-based interventions. Dr. Chirimwami is a trained public policy scientist affiliated with the Oregon Research Institute (ORI). At ORI, he helps coordinate the Research Equity Working Group, which is dedicated to increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the ORI community. He assists ORI in creating and fostering partnerships with community organizations to reach underserved populations in research and evaluation practices. As a public policy scientist, his work investigates how prevention science and the implementation of evidence-based programs can reduce educational and health disparities in historically disenfranchised communities and neighborhoods of concentrated disadvantage. Dr. Chirimwami came to the United States about two decades ago as a refugee. His personal experience and the reality of underrepresentation in academics and program evaluations form the foundation of his perspectives and contribution to science and program evaluations. His work investigates educational and health disparities in underrepresented communities of color. Specifically, Dr. Chirimwami’s work focuses on health disparity experiences in racial and ethnic minority populations to develop or implement evidence-based interventions to reduce health inequity and inform public policy.
Dr. Josh Porter, Ed.D.
Senior Researcher and Qualitative Methodologist Specialist
Dr. Porter is an experienced researcher with six years of conducting research in education, health, and equity. As a Latino, he spent part of his professional career between Mexico and the US. His most recent research utilized critical hermeneutic phenomenology to explore the lived experience of a group of six white-assumed, multiracial scholars, including himself as a co-participant. Findings from this study help humanize the underexplored lived experience of white-assumed, multiracial people, offering agency, healing, and solace to other white-assumed multiracial people that this racial group is a “we” and that we are not alone. He also shares lessons and recommendations for leadership and future scholarship. Dr. Porter reports to the principal investigator.
Kadiatou Tchanago, B.S.
Clinical Researcher
Ms. Tchanago is a registered nurse. She provides clinical expertise on various projects in her role as a clinical researcher. Kadi has done work addressing the crisis of Black maternal mortality. She argues that addressing racial discrimination along with a multifaceted methodology is necessary to solve the maternal mortality issue, particularly the Black maternal mortality crisis. However, systemic and structural factors perpetuate racial inequities and create barriers that prevent Black women from accessing quality healthcare and other social determinants of health. That is, the role of the nurse is to be more involved in health policy and advocacy efforts to address the underlying causes of Black maternal mortality, such as poverty, systemic racism, and limited access to quality healthcare.
Miryana Chirimwami, BA.
Business Manager
Ms. Chirimwami is a first-year MBA student who leads the operational business of the firm. She is responsible for HR, scheduling, and contacting clients, including study participants. Ms. Chirimwami is a dedicated and results-oriented Account Manager with two years of experience building and maintaining exceptional client relationships. She has demonstrated a proven track record of delivering top-notch customer service and implementing strategic account management strategies. She is adept at identifying growth opportunities, solving complex problems, and contributing to the success of a dynamic research firm.
Kevin Luyamba, MPH
Public Health Researcher | Health Equity | Youth Development | Immigrant Health | Community Development
Kevin Luyamba, MPH, is a public health professional and researcher with four years of experience in public health, youth development, immigrant health, and community development. His work focuses on understanding and addressing the social, economic, cultural, and structural determinants of health, particularly among immigrant and refugee populations, youth, and historically underserved communities.
As a member of the MEB Research scientific team, Kevin contributes to interdisciplinary health research, community-engaged research, and program evaluation aimed at improving population health and reducing health disparities. His interests include behavioral and mental health, family well-being, immigrant integration, youth development, and the design and evaluation of culturally responsive health and social service interventions.
Kevin advocates for cross-sector collaboration and continuity of care among public health systems, educational institutions, healthcare providers, social services, and community-based organizations. He recognizes that improving health outcomes requires coordinated approaches that address the interconnected conditions influencing individuals, families, and communities across the life course.
His scholarly work includes contributions to published research examining African refugee mothers’ parenting experiences in postmigration contexts, as well as ongoing manuscripts addressing immigrant-generation differences in socioeconomic mobility and the relationship between psychological adaptation and financial strain across racial and nativity groups in the United States. His contributions to these studies reflect a commitment to understanding how migration, social integration, economic opportunity, and psychological well-being intersect to shape health and quality of life.
Through MEB Research, Kevin seeks to advance evidence-informed, culturally responsive research and evaluation that strengthen community-based programs, inform public health policy, and promote sustainable improvements in health and social well-being.
Research interests: Public health; health equity; behavioral and mental health; immigrant and refugee health; youth development; family well-being; community development; social determinants of health; community-engaged research; program evaluation.
