Dr. Tyra Toston Gross is an Associate Professor of Public Health at Xavier University of Louisiana, where she has worked as a public health instructor, researcher and mentor since August 2015. Dr. Gross currently serves as Department Chair. Her research expertise is in maternal & child health disparities. Prior to joining Xavier, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in reproductive women’s health at University of Texas Medical Branch. Given her interest in maternal & child health, the majority of Dr. Gross' research has focused on the health of reproductive-age women. Her current research projects include exploring the health of Black postpartum women in Louisiana, and the impacts of natural disasters on maternal & child health. In 2024, Dr. Gross founded the Maternal and Child Health Equity Research & Engagement (MA CHERE) Lab at Xavier to foster community-based research and outreach and student mentorship. Dr. Gross is a member of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM). She is certified as a Personal & Executive Coach through the CaPP Institute and with Maxwell Leadership. Dr. Gross is also a proud wife and mother of four spunky kids and an aspiring entrepreneur and philanthropist.