I am a research leader and collaborative team builder focused on advancing evidence that improves health and wellbeing across communities and generations.
My work brings together interdisciplinary teams to conduct rigorous research, mentor emerging leaders, and translate findings into real-world action. This work includes a breadth across ecological levels: from local implementation to national collaborations. I aim to reduce the time gap between discovery and impact so that science shapes practice, and therefore the health of individuals and communities, in meaningful, measurable ways.
This site shares my professional journey, the teams I’ve had the privilege to work with, and the ideas that continue to shape the work we do together.
How I Work
Strong science is built through collaboration, curiosity, and respect for diverse perspectives. I lead inclusive, interdisciplinary research teams that emphasize rigor, transparency, and shared purpose, while actively mentoring and supporting emerging investigators.
Across projects, I focus on moving work beyond discovery to implementation, aligning rigorous methods with practical impact so that evidence informs policy, practice, and community thriving.
My work is driven by purpose, rigor, and responsibility.
I am motivated by complex public health problems where single-discipline solutions have not yet been successful. Much of my work focuses on substance use, adversity, and the social and biological conditions that shape health across the lifespan, with particular attention to rural and underserved communities.
Across projects, I am interested in how early experiences, environments, and systems interact to influence risk and resilience over time. My research seeks to generate evidence that can be implemented to advance knowledge and to inform policies, programs, and practices that mitigate harm and promote long-term wellbeing.
Institutional Roles
I am a professor at Oklahoma State University, engaged in interdisciplinary research and leadership at the intersection of health, behavior, and community wellbeing. I collaborate with colleagues and partners across institutions to advance research that integrates multiple perspectives and informs practice.
A full summary of my academic experience and publications is available in my Curriculum Vitae.