Emily Zier, PhD

Assistant Professor

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Public Health

Department:

Health Policy, Management, and Leadership

Classification:

Faculty

• PhD, University of Georgia, 2019
• MPA, University of Georgia, 2015

Emily Zier is a health policy researcher whose research centers around understanding how a myriad of public policies affect health outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, her current research focuses on better understanding how service animals impact the health of their handlers. She has worked with legislators in multiple states to develop and shape policies that ensure access for service animals and their handlers and expand protections against fraudulent service animals. For over ten years, she has volunteered as a puppy raiser with nonprofits to help train highly skilled service dogs who are eventually placed with individuals with disabilities to increase their independence and enhance their overall quality of life.