Dr. Gabriela Valdez is the Director of Global Education for the Global Health Institute and Associate Professor of Practice at the Health Promotion Sciences Department at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. With over 20 years of distinguished experience in international education, Dr. Valdez has led the creation, implementation, and oversight of innovative international programs across more than 20 countries worldwide. 

Dr. Valdez brings specialized expertise in global curriculum design and evaluation, with particular distinction in the development and articulation of competency-based health curricula spanning multiple disciplines including public health, medicine, dentistry, physical therapy and nutrition. She has extensive experience designing and implementing rigorous international interdisciplinary dual degree programs that promote collaborative learning and skill development across professional health fields and cultural contexts. Her work emphasizes strategic curriculum internationalization and contextualization to ensure relevance and applicability in diverse global settings.

Dr. Valdez holds a Ph.D. in International Education & Global Perspectives and a graduate certificate in Global Health & International Development from the University of Arizona. Her research interests encompass comparative curriculum studies, intercultural communication, global health, border health, curriculum internationalization and contextualization, international students' experiences, international academic collaboration, and comprehensive program evaluation. Through her scholarship and professional practice, Dr. Valdez contributes significantly to advancing global health education and fostering meaningful international partnerships within higher education.