People: Family Science

Dr. George Askew

George L. Askew, MD, FAAP is the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health, Human Services and Education for Prince George’s County, Maryland. He is responsible for oversight of the county’s Health Department, Department of Family Services, Department of Social Services, and the liaison relationships to the public schools, library system, and community college. He is former Deputy Commissioner of Health in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene where he was responsible for overseeing and managing the Division of Family and Child Health. Prior to that, he was appointed by the Obama Administration to serve as the first Chief Medical Officer for the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Askew was born and raised in inner-city Cleveland, Ohio. He earned a BA in Psychology and Social Relations at Harvard University, is a graduate of the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, and a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Class of 1992 Epidemic Intelligence Service, also known as the “Disease Detectives.”

Contact: glaskew1@co.pg.md.us

Dr. Joni Brown

Joni Brown is a President's Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Family Science. She earned her MA and PhD in Health Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a BA in Psychology from St. John’s University. Her research interest is in psychosocial and sociocultural factors affecting Black women’s reproductive health. In particular, Joni has a strong interest in topics of maternal health and family planning.

Contact: jbrown97@umd.edu

Dr. Chessa Lutter

Dr. Chessa Lutter has worked for more than 25 years on policies and programs to improve maternal and child nutrition in low- and middle-income countries, working with the World Health Organization (WHO), other United Nations Organizations and non-governmental organizations. 

Contact: cklutter@umd.edu