Her Story
About Halimatou
Dr. Halimatou Alaofe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences at the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health in Tucson, Arizona. She has dedicated approximately 20 years to advancing public health and nutrition through research, teaching, mentorship, and service.
Originally trained in biomedical engineering in Benin, West Africa, Dr. Alaofe later earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from Université Laval in Canada. She subsequently completed postdoctoral training focused on chronic disease and undernutrition, experiences that helped shape her interdisciplinary approach to public health nutrition.
Her research program focuses on developing and implementing culturally tailored nutrition interventions to improve type 2 diabetes prevention and management, particularly in underserved and low-resource settings. Her work emphasizes culturally relevant medical nutrition therapy and incorporates local foods, dietary practices, family and social environments, and community realities to translate nutrition science into practical and sustainable solutions.
Dr. Alaofe has received several fellowships, awards, and research support throughout her career, including support from the Canadian International Development Agency, the International Nutrition Foundation, the University of Arizona’s strategic faculty initiatives, and the National Institutes of Health.
Beyond her research, Dr. Alaofe is deeply committed to teaching, mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and university service. She strives to use her experience and scholarship not only to improve population health but also to create opportunities and strengthen the next generation of public health professionals and researchers.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Halimatou
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, purpose, continuous learning, and the support of mentors and collaborators. My passion for improving health in underserved communities has kept me focused, while challenges have helped me grow and remain committed to creating meaningful and sustainable impact.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to stay focused on your purpose, remain open to learning, and never let setbacks define your journey. Careers rarely follow a straight path, and I’ve learned that persistence, adaptability, and continued growth can turn challenges into new opportunities.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to believe in the value of their ideas and not wait until they feel completely ready to pursue opportunities. Seek mentors, build meaningful relationships, remain open to learning, and develop your own professional voice. Most importantly, as you advance, create opportunities for others and bring the next generation of women along with you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in public health nutrition is translating scientific evidence into solutions that work in people’s everyday lives, particularly in underserved and low-resource communities. At the same time, this presents an important opportunity to combine nutrition science, cultural adaptation, community engagement, and implementation science to develop interventions that are effective, accessible, sustainable, and scalable.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, excellence, compassion, equity, and service are the values that guide me most. I believe in doing work that is both scientifically rigorous and meaningful to the communities we serve. I also value collaboration and mentorship, because success is most meaningful when we use our knowledge and opportunities to support others and create lasting impact.
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