CBU professor to serve on Healthy Yucaipa Committee

Riverside, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2017) – Dr. Melissa Wigginton, associate professor of public health science at California Baptist University, has been elected to serve a one-year term with the Healthy Yucaipa Committee. 

“I wanted to get back to helping out my community directly,” Wigginton said of her new opportunity. “I feel that I have a lot of experience that can be helpful to the city of Yucaipa.”

Wigginton obtained her doctorate in health education from Loma Linda University, and during her studies, she spent time working with the Healthy San Bernardino Coalition and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. She has also spent time conducting research at CBU on various health-related issues such as childhood and adult obesity; health promotion and education; chronic disease intervention; and stress and health correlations.

In her role with the city of Yucaipa, Wigginton will develop goals and objectives for the committee. She will also be tasked with creating health-related programs to be implemented by the city.

Wigginton, who lives in Yucaipa, said her faith drives her desire to make a positive impact on her community.

“The Bible discusses loving and caring for your neighbor, doing the most to help those that need help,” Wigginton said.  

Wigginton said for her, being a healthy person has a spiritual connection.

“I’m driven to lead a healthy life a lot by what I learn at church and in the Bible… God created us in his image; I treat my body as a part of that image,” Wigginton said. “I want to be the best version of myself, and I can’t do that when I’m not healthy.”