Marilyn Peppers-Citizen

Biography

Marilyn Peppers-Citizen, PhD, MBA, MS, NBC-HWC, C-IAYT, is a certified yoga therapist, national board-certified health and wellness coach, and assistant professor in the Master of Science in Yoga Therapy program at the Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Integrative Health. She specializes in aging well and has supported various communities to include veterans and their families and caregivers in health and well-being. She is a Brain Longevity® specialist and ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation yoga advisory council. Marilyn is president of the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance Board of Directors and treasurer of the Aromatic Research Quality Appraisal Task Force Board of Directors.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy – Public Policy, Walden University, Minneapolis, MN. Interdisciplinary Policy Studies Concentration
• Master of Science – National Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Washington, DC. Information Strategies Concentration
• Master of Business Administration, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
• Bachelor of Arts – Broadcast Journalism, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX

Certifications & Licensure

• Higher Education, Health, Wellness, Yoga
• Certified Yoga Therapist, International Association of Yoga Therapists (C-IAYT)
• National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), National Board HWC
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate, University of South Florida
• Inclusive Teaching: Supporting All Students in the College Classroom, ColumbiaX
• Brain Longevity Therapist, Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation
• MindBody Therapy, Embodied Philosophy (300 hour)
• Mindful Yoga for Chronic Pain, Duke Health and Wellbeing
• Mindful Based Stress Reduction, Duke Health and Wellbeing
• Integrated Amrit Method (I AM) Yoga Nidra Advanced Level Certification
• Integrated Restoration (iRest) Level 2 Certified
• Personal Trainer, American Council on Exercise
• Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT500), yoga continuing education provider, Yoga Alliance
• Certified Aromatherapist, Aromahead Institute, School of Essential Oils
• Holistic Health Coach, Institute of Integrative Nutrition
• Program Design for Older Adults, National Academy of Sports Medicine

Research

Publications

1. Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
2. 1. Reven, M. E., Bowles, E. J., Ablard, K., Peppers-Citizen, M., Joswiak, D. J., May-Fitzgerald, A. C., & Unger, B. J. (2025). Essential criteria for reporting of aromatherapy-focused research in humans: An international Delphi consensus study protocol. PLOS One.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318379
3. 2. Reven, M. E., Bowles, E. J., Audia, D. D., Cohen, M. M., Joswiak, D. J., Kurkas Lee, B. A., May-Fitzgerald, A. C., Peppers-Citizen, M., Resnick, J. A., Tomaino, J. M., & Unger, B. J. (2024). Quality Appraisal of Research Reporting for Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Studies in Humans: Proposed Checklist for "Transparent Reporting for Essential oil and Aroma Therapeutic Studies." Journal of integrative and complementary medicine, 10.1089/jicm.2023.0006.https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2023.0006

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

• American Society for Public Administration
• Pi Alpha Alpha, Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration
• International Association of Yoga Therapists
• Black Yoga Teachers Alliance
• American Council on Exercise
• American Public Health Association
• Virginia Public Health Association
• Yoga Alliance
• Alliance of International Aromatherapists
• Program Management Institute
• Military Officers Association of America
• National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy

Awards

• 2012
• Outstanding Alumna
• , College of Media and Communications, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX