Kristynn Sullivan Boyajian

Kristynn BOYAJIAN serves as Director of Public Health for Merced County in California, where she oversees public health initiatives for a population of approximately 300,000 residents in the Central Valley. She began her career with the Merced County Department of Public Health 11 years ago after completing a doctorate in quantitative psychology at UC Merced in 2015, following a bachelor's degree from the University of Mary Washington in Petersburg, Virginia. Although her background is in research methods and statistics rather than traditional public health training, she transitioned into the field after a personal experience highlighted gaps in healthcare access. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led case investigation, contact tracing, testing, and vaccination efforts, including the decision to temporarily shut down a local meatpacking plant to control a deadly outbreak, an action that positioned the facility as a model for future responses. BOYAJIAN is an active member of CHIAC, NACO, and an affiliate of the Health Sciences Research Institute. She mentors emerging professionals, serves as parent-teacher club president at her child's school, and supports local theater, arts nonprofits, and partnerships with United Way and community organizations. She advises young women entering the field to remain flexible and open to unexpected opportunities rather than rigidly adhering to initial plans.