Dr. Shelly-Ann was born in Manchester, Jamaica, in the West Indies. Her nuclear family consisted of her parents and seven siblings, one of whom is her twin. At age 13, she migrated with her family from Jamaica to Brooklyn, New York, to pursue a better life. Shelly-Ann is a Lafayette High School graduate in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Love’s father sparked her interest in math as a child by frequently entertaining her and her siblings with math riddles. Consequently, her love for math led her to attain a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Magna Cum Laude, from Stony Brook University and a Master of Science Degree in Statistics from North Carolina State University.

Dr. Love’s interest in leading health research studies investigating lifestyle, social, and genetic risk factors for health to alleviate health disparities in racial and ethnic populations led her to acquire a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Outside of research, Dr. Love enjoys working out, watching murder mysteries and foreign movies, and spending quality time with her honeybunny and their three children: Jerry, Talia, and Sarah.

Drs. Love has shared a passion for youths and older adults, standing against social justice and building healthy families/communities. Dr. Love hopes to support her husband (Pastor Love) in all ministry endeavors.