Publications
Majority of my publications center on weaving equity into our work through human-centered design and research. Lately, I’ve been diving at topics at the intersection of climate resilience, health, and equity.
Working Journal Papers
The following working papers are currently under journal review and are anticipated for publication in 2025.
Ackerman, A., Ali, E., Wait, A., Martinez, H., Fabricant, R., Gonzalez, A., Canetas Yerbes, M., & Cullen, T. (2024). Modeling equitable compensation for lived experience experts in local public health programming: Lessons learned. BMJ Quality and Safety.
Peer-reviewed Journal Papers
Wolfson, J. A., Altema-Johnson, D., Yett, A., Ali, E., Kim, B., Carr, N., Santo, R., Cho, C., Browning, G., & Ramsing, R. (2025). Climate change menu labels in a university cafeteria: effects on student’s diets, perceptions, and attitudes. Appetite, 211, 108001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108001
Ackerman, A., Nigon, B., Wait, A., Ali, E., Wilkinson-Lee, A. M., Cohen, A., Jones, M., Cortez, I. G., Kelly, K., Fabricant, R., Serrano-Feliciano, J., Stanowski, J., & Cullen, T. (2025). Using human-centered design to advance health literacy in local health department programming: a case study. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22491-z
News and Magazine Articles
Ali, E. (2025, April 28). How Saint Paul and Ramsey County are accelerating access to climate-resilient jobs with TOPCities. 2024 Impact Report; Beeck Center. https://beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/report/2024-impact-report/present/
Ali, E. (2025, February 4). The Heart of TOPCities. Beeck Center. https://beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/the-heart-of-topcities/
Ali, E. (2025, January 14). Climate resilience requires equitable access to quality green jobs. Saint Paul is making strides. Beeck Center. https://beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/saint-paul-climate-resilience-equity-green-jobs/
Ali, E. (2025, January 14). Climate resilience requires equitable access to quality green jobs. Saint Paul is making strides. - Full Stack Saint Paul. Full Stack Saint Paul - Amplifying Tech and Innovation in Saint Paul; Full Stack Saint Paul. https://fullstacksaintpaul.com/climate-resilience-requires-equitable-access-to-quality-green-jobs-saint-paul-is-making-strides/
Food+Planet, Ali, E., Harding, J., & Occhetta, A. (2023). Food + Planet and Today’s Dietitian Release Results of 2023 Sustainability and Food Insights Survey. Food + Planet. https://foodandplanet.org/experience/ [Insight] [PR Release]
Ali, E., & Naughton, E. (2023, November 28). How the City of Akron is tackling housing evictions. Beeck Center. https://beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/how-the-city-of-akron-is-tackling-housing-evictions/
Ali, E. (2021). How to Incorporate Equity into Your Health Communications Efforts. Medium. https://medium.com/u-s-digital-response/how-to-incorporate-equity-into-your-health-communications-efforts-a9baa735037c
Ali, E. (2021). Improving Vaccine Info Webpages with Updated Content and Design. Medium. https://www.usdigitalresponse.org/success-stories/pueblo-county-vaccine-website-updates/
Ali, E. (2017). Kate Spaziani on the ACA, its History and the Future of its Repeal. The Rosenberg Lecture on Healthcare Quality. The Link. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. https://documentsn.com/download/spring-2017-the-link-columbia-university_59a4c.html
Ali, E. (2013). Global Youth Movements: Identity, Culture, And Freedom. Claremont Portside Newsmagazine. https://issuu.com/claremontps/docs
Ali, E. (2012). The Struggle for the Spratly Islands. Claremont Portside Newsmagazine. https://issuu.com/claremontps/docs
Ali, E. (2012). A Clash of Ignorance. The Claremont Portside Newsmagazine. https://issuu.com/claremontps/docs/2012_october_issue
Ali, E. (2012). International Women’s Day. Claremont Portside Newsmagazine. https://issuu.com/claremontps/docs/2012_april_issue
Ali, E. (2012). East? Meet West. Claremont Portside Newsmagazine. https://issuu.com/claremontps/docs/february2012printissue
Ali, E. (2011). Voices of Defiance. Claremont Portside Newsmagazine. https://issuu.com/claremontps/docs/october2011printissue
Ali, E. (2011). The Greatest Election that Isn’t. Loomis Chaffee World Bulletin Winter 2011. https://issuu.com/loomischaffee/docs/lc_world_bulletin_winter_2011
Ali, E. (2011). A Letter to the Crown Prince of Bahrain . Loomis Chaffee World Bulletin Spring 2011. https://issuu.com/loomischaffee/docs/lc_world_bulletin_spring_2011
Opinion Editorials
Ali, E. (2023). How to bridge the AI divide for equitable SNAP access. Substack. https://elhamali.substack.com/p/how-to-bridge-the-ai-divide-for-equitable
Ali, E. (2019). How design thinking made me a better project manager. Medium. https://medium.com/jumana-design/how-design-thinking-made-me-a-better-project-manager-bdab69b1d42
Ali, E. (2017). How Empathy Drives Better Health Outcomes. Medium. https://medium.com/jumana-design/how-empathy-drives-better-health-outcomes-f5b0f076d24e
Ali, E. (2019). Three Solutions to Bridge the Health Technology Divide. Medium. https://medium.com/jumana-design/three-solutions-to-bridge-the-health-technology-divide-6d130989632d
Conference Presentations
Ali, E., & Moore, H. (2023). Experience Mapping Session Presentation. National League of Cities Summit.
Ali, E. (2023). Lessons Learned in Human-centered Design in COVID-19 Crisis Response and Substance Use Disorder. 14th Annual Diverse Voices in Presentation Cultural Competency Conference.
Ackerman, A., Ali, E. (2022). Health Literacy Interventions to Impact COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Using Human-centered Design and Behavioral Science. Arizona Health Equity Conference. https://azhealthequity.org/
Ackerman, A., Ali, E., Theresa, C. (2022). Health Equity Capability Maturity Model. NACCHO 360. https://www.nacchoannual.org/home
Ackerman, A., Theresa, C., Ali, E. (2022). Health Literacy Interventions to Impact COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Using Human-centered Design. NACCHO 360. https://www.nacchoannual.org/home
Ali, E. (2021). COVID-19 Crisis Communication: Empowering the Public Health Community. American Public Health Association: Health Communication Group. https://fccdl.in/rbKatCZUCw
Ali, E., & Yi, J. (2021). Lightning Talks: Promoting Health Equity in COVID-19. DotGov Design. http://www.dotgovdesign.org/about/
Ali, E. (2020). Street-based substance use treatment for unsheltered homeless individuals in California: A case for CA Bridge Programs. 16th annual International Street Medicine Symposium.https://www.streetmedicine.org/
Workshops and Webinars
Ackerman, A., Ali, E., & Wait, A. (2024, December 13). From Practice to Policy: A Roundtable on Equitable Community Compensation. National Association for City and County Organizations (NACCHO); NACCHO. https://virtualcommunities.naccho.org/discussion/from-practice-to-policy-a-roundtable-on-equitable-community-compensation-december-13
Ali, E., Boyer, L., & Valens, J. (2025, March 12). InnovateUS Workshop - Building Inclusive Climate Resilience with Human-Centered Design in Government. InnovateUS; InnovateUS. https://innovate-us.org/building-inclusive-climate-resilience-with-human-centered-design-in-government
Ali, E. (2024). How to Apply Human-Centered Design to Government AI Projects. Innovate(US). https://innovate-us.org/how-to-apply-human-centered-design-to-government-ai-projects-
Ali, E. (2023). Practical Design Sprint Activities for Health Educators. National Public Health Week, PHEP Section American Public Health Association.
Ali, E., Liang, K., Ellis, E. (2021). Lessons Learned from Senior User Researchers. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjmRNjVpbaM
Ali, E., Tien, L., & Rohatsch, R. (2021). How to Tackle COVID Vaccine Challenges and Speed Up Delivery. Solv Health. http://www.solvhealth.com/for-providers/webinars/webinar-how-to-speed-up-covid-vaccine-delivery-with-solv-and-us-digital-response
Ali, E. (2021). Introduction to Mixed Methods Research for UX Researchers. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FqQol-JYkg
Ali, E. (2020). How to Craft a Meaningful Professional Development Plan. TechLadies. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/webinar-how-to-craft-a-meaningful-professional-development-plan-tickets-108491278334
Ali, E. (2019). 5 Project Management Hacks. TechLadies. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/webinar-5-project-management-hacks-tickets-65445231449
Toolkits
Ali, E. & Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation. (2024, December). The Opportunity Project for Cities Resource Library. Notion. https://topcities.notion.site/
Ali, E., & Nagao-Peck, H. (2021). COVID-19 Communication Toolkit: A Health Equity Lens. U.S. Digital Response. https://www.usdigitalresponse.org/our-projects/covid-communications-toolkit/
Theses
Ali, E. (2018). Impact of Health Insurance Coverage on HIV Diagnosis Rate in New York City for Young Adults [Master Thesis Poster Presentation]. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gM6WHmajT2HafEcnl6l84r_A5-2TiJO3/view?usp=sharing
Ali, E. (2015). Malnutrition Through Constructivism: How International Organizations Succeed in Sustaining Nutrition Interventions in Kenya [Bachelor Thesis]. Claremont McKenna College. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1201/
Teaching and Mentorship
UC Berkley Extension, Guest Lecturer
DESIGNX475.3-026 UX Research: Introduction to Quantitative User Research
ADPList, Main Lecturer
Introduction to Equity-focused Design and Research
Gaza SkyGeeks, Main Lecturer and Mentor
UX Week: Introduction to Accessible Design and Research for Developers
DesignLab, Mentor
Design 101, UX Research and Strategy, Career Coaching
Crown Prince International Scholarship Alumni Association, Mentor
Professional Development, User Research
Media Coverage
Ali, E. (2019). May Alumni Spotlight: Elham Ali - YES Programs (en-US). Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Programs. https://www.yesprograms.org/stories/may-alumni-spotlight-elham-ali
Upwork. (2019). 2019 Annual Impact Report. Upwork. https://www.upwork.com/research/2019-annual-impact-report1
Hackathons
Ali, E., Conigan, C., Leach, J., Kim, N., & Shankar, A. (2021). Jumana Care: Building community-based equity. Hack4Equity Georgia. https://github.com/Elhamyali/Jumana-Care
Ali, E. (2017). StorySpace: Daring greatly amidst the goliaths. Columbia University. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzCekI0iBUc&t=1026s
Footnotes
I was featured on Upwork’s 2019 Annual Impact Report as a Top Rated professional specializing in project management and UX design.↩︎