Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Substance Use (ITRE)

Scholars

Each year, 12-15 students are accepted into a cohort of Institute scholars. Institute scholars are a diverse group of students, representing a variety of academic departments, including psychology, school counseling, nursing, rehabilitation and mental health counseling, child and family studies, public health, social work and criminology. Some scholars are enrolled in master's or doctoral degrees, while others work full-time at community-based agencies. Over the past four years, nearly 90 percent of scholars have been women and more than 40 percent identify as racial or ethnic minorities.

See below for more information about our scholars and cohorts.

ITRE Cohort 11

Cohort 11 Scholars: (back l to r) Kyrie Robbins; Abby Shockley; Celia Miller; Alison Liechty; Caleb Beanblossom; Kacey Wood; (front l to r) Nicole Rullan-Rubert; Moet Bailey; Danielle Boyce; Brittney Cooper

COHORT 11 (2024-2025)

Moet Bailey is a first-year student at USF in the Master of Public Health Program with a concentration in Behavioral Health. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from USF in Psychology with a minor in Public Health and a concentration in Advanced Research Experience. She volunteered with the Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair at USF, contributing to projects investigating neurocognitive, psychosocial, and mood outcomes related to COVID-19. Additionally, she worked as a research assistant conducting research with The Neuromusculoskeletal Biomechanics and Chiropractic (NeuBaC) Laboratory, focusing on mental health outcomes associated with low-intensity physical exercise. Her neuropsychological assessments in a clinical setting sparked her interest in Public Health to gain a better understanding of the implementation of equitable healthcare. Her primary research interest is the comorbidity between mental and physical conditions, specifically for adolescent populations. 

Caleb Beanblossom recently graduated Cum Laude from the University of South Florida (USF) earning a B.A. in psychology, with experience as: 1) a Peer Coach and Peer Coach Leader for the USF St. Pete. COMPASS office; 2) a Research Assistant (RA) in psychological sciences; and 3) an RA in sociological research in Africa. As an advocate for mental health care system reform and augmentation, Caleb is a graduate student in the Master's Degree Program in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at the USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. Caleb plans to complete a thesis project in the realm of adolescent behavioral health alongside the USF Graduate Certificate in Translational Research Education in Adolescent Substance Use ITRE to strengthen his research skills and build upon prior experiences. Caleb plans to pursue a career in both mental health care practice and research. His research interests include adolescents, people affected by substance use, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Danielle Boyce is completing her final year of a Master of Science in Nursing Degree (MSN) Program at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Nursing, with a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Concentration. She completed both her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) in 2018 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN) in 2021 at St. Petersburg College. Since becoming a Registered Nurse in 2018, she has worked with BayCare Health System as an inpatient nurse at local hospitals, as well as for an outpatient pediatric primary care office. While completing her undergraduate studies, Danielle worked as a lab assistant in the Microbiology Department at St. Petersburg College, and as a summer student researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Department in Toronto, Canada. Her interests include the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on various aspects of adolescent development, behavioral health, as well as disparities in access to treatment for this at-risk patient population. Her future career goals are to specialize in adolescent behavioral health and help meet the evolving needs of this community.

Brittney Cooper is pursuing a Master of Science in Public Health Degree in the University of South Florida (USF) College of Public Health in the Behavioral Health Concentration. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences with a Pre-Clinical Concentration from the University of Central Florida. Upon completing her undergraduate coursework, she began working as a clinical search coordinator on-site at SIMEDHealth, facilitating a range of clinical trials, including COVID-19, UTI, and colorectal cancer. Brittney currently works as a Behavioral Healthcare Coordinator for the Florida SMMC health plan Sunshine Health, where she coordinates the care for a caseload of 130 SMI members. Her primary research interests include child and adolescent behavioral health, black and African American health outcomes, rural health disparities, and implementation science. Brittney hopes to gain from ITRE a robust toolset to serve the underserved populations

Alison Liechty is a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Northern Arizona University. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2019. While there, she gained a broad knowledge of psychological topics including neurobiology, cognition, social psychology and research methods. As a first year occupational therapy student, Alison is gaining knowledge of the everyday activities people need to do in their lives and the variables that can promote or inhibit those activities. Alison is excited to broaden her knowledge about research methods and practice through this program. She looks forward to meshing her psychology background and occupational therapy knowledge into the Translational Research for Adolescent Behavioral Health Field. She is excited for the opportunity to practice research in a real-world setting while helping underserved and at risk populations. Alison is honored to be a scholar in the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse program.

Celia Miller is a first year at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Public Health Master of Public Health Degree Program in the Behavioral Health Concentration. She graduated in 2022 from the University of Florida with her BA in Criminology and BS in Psychology, with an emphasis on Behavior Analysis. During her undergraduate education, Celia developed her passion for studying the mechanisms of substance use disorders, which inspired her to apply to the Behavioral Health Concentration at USF. Currently, Celia works as a Youth GPS Intern at the Ybor Youth Clinic, conducting substance use and HIV research. She also works with USF through Florida Covering Kids and Families as a Licensed Navigator helping individuals gain access to health insurance. Upon completion of the USF Graduate Certificate Program in Translational Research Education in Substance Use, Celia hopes to work for either a local or state health department expanding substance use prevention programs across the youth population.

Nicole Rullan-Rubert is a graduate student in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in literature with a minor in mass communication, graduating with a Magna Cum Laude recognition. Nicole's undergraduate studies centered around a socioecological approach to education, literature, and mass communication to highlight the impacts of mental health and substance abuse awareness, and on resource access disparities in society. Her undergraduate research highlighted systemic barriers that promote health disparities and economic disadvantages based on sociodemographic factors. Nicole is committed to reducing the impact of these barriers through her graduate and ITRE studies. Her research interests include neurodiversity, suicidality, substance abuse, and trauma-informed care interventions. Nicole intends to approach her public health research with an awareness of how to work with social marketing and mass communication strategies to partner with educational institutions to reduce barriers to healthcare and improve the quality of life of children and teens.

Kyrie Robbins is a doctoral student in the Occupational Therapy Program at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix Biosciences Campus. She earned a B.S. in Family and Human Development at Arizona State University, where she worked as a research assistant for EYEPlay, which promotes language and literacy development in preschoolers, contained and general classrooms, through drama during story time. Kyrie has spent over 5 years with the pediatric community in different settings, working with children of varying cognitive abilities. Kyrie’s research interests include mental health status and the impact on adolescent development. Kyrie’s objective is to help provide psychologists and other professionals with information about how to aid in mental health concerns to reduce the negative developmental impacts.

Abby Shockley serves as Director of the Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Center at the University of South Florida. She earned a B.S. in Health Sciences from Boston University, a Master’s Degree in Public Health from USF, and is Certified in Public Health. She is currently pursuing her Doctoral Degree in Public Health at USF. Abby is an adjunct faculty member for the USF Department of Mental Health Law & Policy. Prior to joining the USF Technical Assistant Center, Abby served as consultant for behavioral health programs, assisting with strategic planning, grant writing, development of compliance and business plans, and assessing programs for implementation of best practices for individuals with mental and substance use disorders. She previously served as a Senior Policy Analyst with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services where her work focused on several of the Department’s substance use disorder initiatives, including substance use disorder policy analysis, federal parity compliance enforcement, and development and expansion and oversight of Medicaid coverage for SUD. Abby played a pivotal role in drafting and passing crucial legislation including the Children’s System of Care legislation, and developing program expectations for the state’s only youth residential behavioral health treatment facility. 

Kacey Wood is currently in the second year of her Master’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Behavioral & Community Sciences. Kacey earned an undergraduate degree in Criminology and Psychology, with a particular interest in risk and resilience factors and prevention research. She has completed a professional internship with the USF Center for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention and is now working full time at a nonprofit health organization in Winter Haven, FL known as Positively U, Inc. In her free time, she volunteers as a development coordinator and camp counselor for a nonprofit organization known as Camp Kesem, which provides year-round support to children whose parents have or had cancer. Her research and career interests lie in prevention programming for at-risk youth. She hopes to gain strategies to promote compatibility between evidence-based practices, the host organization, and the community of focus, through ITRE. 

 

ITRE Cohort 10

Cohort 10 Scholars: (front l to r) Greg Levitt; Ginger Ross; (back l to r) Jacqueline Houston; Dr. Yasmin Fucci; Elzbieta Wiedbusch; Arielis Perez; Joshua Mincey; Tajhah Kittling; Manuel Mayor; Miracle Macias Burgos; Ling Zhang (not shown: Erin Sedowski)

COHORT 10 (2023-2024)

Miracle Macias Burgos is currently in her first year for a Psychological Sciences Masters at Northern Arizona University. She is a first generation college student from Ecuadorian immigrants which has influenced her research interests to focus on marginalized groups in the U.S, specifically Latin American groups. In her undergraduate career, she worked in a neuroscience lab for two years and found her passion to be in researching addiction/substance use disorders. This program has given her a chance to explore the public health field in those topics specifically. Her research style has also moved from traditional to translational research seeing that it is more catered to helping these marginalized groups directly. Her current plan is to pursue a clinical PhD in psychology and contribute to the translational research done at the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Dr. Yasmin Fucci has over 12 years of experience at the Florida Department of Health in the areas of demographic analysis and quantitative research. She graduated with a doctoral degree from the USF COPH. Previously, she earned her Master of Public Health from the University of North Florida. Yasmin is currently the Program Administrator at the Bureau of Vital Statistics where she directs and coordinates comprehensive trainings and data quality improvement projects that seek to implement meaningful strategies for current users and future public health professionals utilizing the statewide Electronic Birth and Death Registration Systems. Yasmin’s research interests include improving anomalies in health indicator data, researching statewide statistical trends and their subsequent impact on data driven decisions relating
to the underdevelopment of community health education programs in Florida, and conducting statistical analyses that impact legislative bills.

Jacqueline Houston is a first-year graduate student at USF in the Master of Public Health degree program, with a concentration in Behavioral Health. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) while completing her field practicum at the United States Agency for International Development, where she managed the Social Service Workforce Group in support of the Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity Strategy. Jacqueline is a McKnight Junior Scholar in the USF Social Work Interdisciplinary Research Lab where she is working on several manuscripts analyzing Gender-Based Violence and Adverse Childhood Experiences in Cité Soleil, Haiti. In her current role, Jacqueline serves as the Domestic Violence Child Welfare Advocate at The Spring of Tampa Bay, where she supports the Child Protection Investigations Project. Jacqueline’s primary research interest is the Troubled Teen Industry. She recently established the National Youth Rights Association Tampa Node and is energized to advocate for the protection of youth rights in Florida. Following graduation, Jacqueline will pursue a Ph.D. in psychiatric epidemiology.

Tajhah Kittling earned a Master’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health from USF and has over 10 years of experience with community-based initiatives. Most of her educational and employment history focuses on behavioral health within a community. Direct engagement with children, adolescents, young adults, and adult families spurred her interest in improvement science, blending dissemination with implementation and sustainability. Her current practices actively implement evidence-based treatments on a local level with community professionals, where the focus is on providing direct services and cultivating program intrapreneurship. She aims to structure her practices and leadership around neuro-inclusion, traumainformed
management, system of care, values, principles, and equity. Her goal is to focus on the integration of new culturally responsive policies while developing employee personal and professional skills through a supervision/ coaching model.

Greg Levitt is a first year Master of Social Work Student at USF. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Physics, Greg spent 6 years as a middle and high school STEM instructor. During his time as a teacher, he found greater meaning in lending an ear to students experiencing emotional distress than teaching about math and science. Since that realization, he has worked in a domestic violence shelter and in a program for adolescents and young adults overcoming dual diagnoses. Presently, he is working as a research assistant in a lab examining complementary therapies for Veterans experiencing symptoms of Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder and is completing his field placement with Lifepath Hospice in South Tampa. His primary research interest is to examine the training and support systems for direct service providers in the behavioral health field.

Manuel “Manny” Mayor graduated the USF COPH MPH degree program in public health administration. He has more than 12 years of public health experience, which includes research and prevention efforts in the fields of Human Immunodeficiency viruses, colorectal cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, and tobacco cessation. He is currently working at Premier Community HealthCare to create connections with community members, collaborate with community organizations, and coordinate events aiming to improve community access and health. As the Community Engagement Manager, he manages a team that helps the community in gaining health care access, health education, and social resources. A focus of his efforts is underserved communities such as migrant seasonal agricultural workers, people experiencing homelessness, and public housing residents among others. He is also currently working to complete his doctoral degree in public health at USF COPH.

Joshua Mincey is a first-year graduate student in the Social Marketing Concentration pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Health at USF. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health from Florida State University. Throughout his life, Joshua has frequently volunteered with community events, community organizations, and non-profit organizations. Joshua hopes to understand the roles of different psychological and neurological factors that spur decisionmaking. Currently, Joshua is involved with several localand statewide organizations focusing on substance abuse.He hopes to graduate from the ITRE program with thetools to successfully and effectively champion behavioral health interventions and promoting preventative health
within communities.

Arielis Perez is a first-year student in the Master of Science in Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Degree program at USF. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Albizu University, where she received the Outstanding Student Medal for graduating with the highest GPA (4.0) in her class. In 2019, she began her Undergraduate Post-Baccalaureate in Science at Florida International University. Arielis has received training on child exposure to substances and trauma from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and a certification in the Challenges of Global Health from Duke University. Before starting graduate school, she was a lab research assistant where she worked on projects focused on innovative ways to teach procedural knowledge to undergraduate students through primary scientific literature. Arielis is interested in child cognitive development, including both the biological and social bases. She joined the ITRE to learn more about community-level projects to improve the well-being of multicultural children and adolescents.

Ginger Ross, Hampton, NH, is the founder of Choices Peer Recovery Coach Training. Ginger has worked in the peer recovery field since 2015 and is a grassroots pioneer in developing the movement in NH. Choices Recovery Training is nationally recognized and approved by National Association of Drug Addiction Counselors. Ginger has designed a library of peer recoveryrelated training and addiction/recovery-related training for community partners, family court workers/child welfare, family members, and first responders. Ginger has been an interim program manager programs and companies where peer coaching has been an integral part of the service delivery. Ginger has consulted with the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability in creating fidelity tools for Alternative Peer Groups, the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group through the University of Colorado to develop Peer Support for Benzodiazepine training, and the New Hampshire Problem Gambling Council. Ginger earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She holds the Certified Recovery Support Worker license in New Hampshire and the National Peer Credential. Ginger has lived experience with domestic violence, recovery, and working with child welfare.

Erin Sadowski is a Master of Public Health student at USF COPH in the Behavioral Health Concentration. She completed her bachelor’s degrees in Human Biology and Clinical Psychology at the University of California San Diego in 2020. Following the completion of her undergraduate work, Erin returned to Florida to work as a case manager for the Community Action Treatment team in Hendry and Glades counties. Through her work with this program, she developed a passion for working with children, adolescents, and young adults in crises related to behavioral health concerns. Her decision to pursue an advanced degree in public health was influenced by a desire to created system-level change for more equitable access to behavioral health services for all. Currently, Erin acts as a case manager for Gracepoint Wellness’s adult emergency services facility. Erin is grateful for and honored by the opportunity to work alongside colleagues in USF ITRE.

Elzbieta Wiedbusch is a second-year doctoral student in the Behavioral and Community Sciences program at USF. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminal Justice/Criminology from Loyola University Chicago. Elzbieta has assisted in research projects regarding youth community violence exposure, recovery from substance misuse and addiction, and the criminal justice system’s impact on marginalized communities. Her efforts resulted in poster presentations at regional and national conferences and published manuscripts on recovery from substance use disorders. Her current research focuses on the intersection of substance misuse and addiction, trauma, and attention deficit disorder among girls in the juvenile justice system. Elzbieta is also interested in diagnostic procedures and assessments used in juvenile justice systems and their validity for female and non-White youth. Her professional goal is to promote and disseminate evidence-based prevention and intervention programs for youth at risk for criminal justice involvement. She plans to work with community-based agencies to prevent local youth from justice involvement and provide them with needed behavioral health services.

Ling Zhang graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chinese Medicine from Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. During her undergraduate education, she participated in a research project assisting families with using herbal and western medicines to lower the cost of treatment. Ling started her master’s program in Public Health Promotion in 2022 at NAU. She is currently a Graduate Research Assistant of Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative at NAU working on promoting recreation time among Individuals incarcerated in jail sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. She is also facilitating an employee-wellness research study at Twin Arrows Project serving the Navajo population. Her research interests have centered on family and children well-being, adolescent substance use, and primary and second prevention for mental disorders among underserved populations. She is honored to be a scholar for USF ITRE.

ITRE Cohort 9

Cohort 9 Scholars: Taylor Stringer; Michelle Bollom; Tocara Jackson; Kelsi King; Tara Indar; Ansley Davis

COHORT 9 (2022-2023)

Michelle Bollum is a doctoral student in the Occupational Therapy Program at Northern Arizona University (NAU) Phoenix Biosciences Campus. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Arizona State University-West, where she worked in the Stress and Coping Research Lab, interned for The New Song Center for Grieving Children, and volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in foster care. Michelle has spent over a decade in community mental health services. The majority of Michelle’s professional work has centered on trauma-informed care and behavior modification within high-risk populations. Michelle’s research interests lie in the power of play throughout the lifespan, positive neuropsychology, and community engagement. Her goal is to develop and implement a model of care centered on fostering a strong sense of purpose and meaning in people’s lives.

Ansley Davis is currently a graduate student at USF pursuing her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, both in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Ansley has worked in the public school system as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She worked on a research project that looked at the effects of a social communication intervention on students’ language skills and presented the results in the 2020 American Speech and Hearing Association conference. Her primary research interests include pragmatic language deficits, literacy, and the impact that executive function deficits (e.g., emotional regulation, self-monitoring, etc.) have on communication in children and adolescents. She is also interested in studying the impact of trauma on youth’s social communication skills. Ansley’s goal is to contribute to the dissemination of evidence-based interventions for practicing speech-language pathologists.

Tara Indar is a Guyanese American that grew up in the Tampa Bay area. She is a first-year doctoral student in the Educational Leadership program at USF. In 2020, she completed her master’s degree in Educational Leadership at the University of North Florida. Tara also earned her B.S in biology from the Stony Brook University of New York in 2016. She has taught grade levels 3rd-8th for the past five years. Because of her experience, she has generated intense interest in making the classroom a better place, specifically in teacher retention.

Tocara Jackson is currently a student in the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program at USF. Tocara has worked with youth in various roles including as a pediatric nurse, teacher, and youth leader. In these roles, she became intrigued with how certain aspects of an adverse childhood created barriers for children and affected them in multiple areas of their lives. Currently, she is employed at the Tampa Bay Community and Family Development DBA Bethesda Ministries as a Trauma Informed Specialist/Case Manager. In this role, Tocara helps families identify stressors or traumas in their home and life and provides resources and purposeful practices to them. Her research interests include the safety and support of children and the correlation between their behavior when there is stress and trauma. Her long-term goal is to engage in philanthropy and establish a youthfocused nonprofit entity.

Kelsie King is currently completing a Psychological Sciences Master’s program at NAU. During her undergraduate education, she also studied abroad for a semester in Austria, served as a student health liaison, peer mentored first-generation students, and assisted in several research labs on campus. Kelsie has assisted in various research projects including translational research on betrayal trauma experienced by Neo-Natal Crisis Unit mothers and has presented a poster at the Western Psychological Association Conference on trauma-focused therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in children and adolescents. These experiences illustrate her research interests in child and adolescent trauma as well as others including risk and protective factors for serious mental illness and positive parenting interventions. After completing her master’s at NAU, Kelsie plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and hopes to work directly with children and adolescents. Her goal is to promote early recognition of trauma and mental illness to provide younger generations with a strong emotional foundation for healthy development.

Taylor E. Stringer is a graduate student at NAU pursuing her doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. Taylor earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition and Food, with a double minor in Psychology and Biology from NAU. She has a long history of working with youth of varying ages and continues that passion for focusing on youth in the pursuit of her doctoral degree. Taylor aspires to work in pediatrics and help bring healing through trauma-informed care. She aspires to play a part in helping to bridge the gap between foster care and occupational therapy as well as bring awareness to this emerging practice setting. Taylor hopes to gain the experience and knowledge to further this dream and continue to develop her research skills through this incredible opportunity to learn from her teammates and faculty at USF ITRE.

Cohort 8 ITRE Scholars

COHORT 8 (2021 -2022)

Julia Allen is currently a first-year graduate student at the University of South Florida pursuing her Masters in the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program, with a concentration in Addictions and Substance Abuse. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Florida Gulf Coast University in the Spring of 2020. As an undergraduate student she conducted and presented research about the attitudes of aging and the concept of subjective age at Florida Gulf Coast University and then was accepted to present her research at the annual Southeastern Psychological Association conference in New Orleans in 2020. She also completed an internship at Katz Counseling and Educational Psychology, a mental health private practice, where her passion for wanting to help vulnerable populations grew. Julia is now working as a care manager at an outpatient children’s site in the Tampa area to assist families after crises. Her research interests include substance abuse, adolescent behavior and development, traumas, social injustices, and social stigmas surrounding mental health. Julia is grateful and honored to represent the University of South Florida as a Scholar for the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse.

Kaela DeSouza graduated with her Bachelor of Art degree in Sociology from the University of South Florida (USF) in 2019. During her undergraduate studies, she double majored in Behavioral Healthcare with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Kaela currently works for Agency for Community Treatment Services, Inc. (ACTS) a nonprofit organization that provides an array of behavioral health care services. She works as an intake specialist at the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), where she processes youths who are presented by law enforcement and conducts evaluations about the youths. As an intake specialist, she complies comprehensive data about the youth’s life in order to help suggest individualized recommendations and services for each youth. Her research interests include youth and adolescents, perceptions of mental health diagnosis and immigrant families, the impact of one’s social standing (intersectionality) as it relates to behavioral healthcare services, addictions, and the classification of substance use as being deviant. Kaela is honored for the opportunity to continue to further her education at USF as a scholar for the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse.

Cassandra Garza is a first-year student in the Master of Public Health program at the University of South Florida with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. She is currently an Administrative Specialist for the College of Nursing Dean. Her research interest includes focusing on minority adolescents and improving their access to mental health care services. She is excited to learn through the ITRE scholar program to gain skills to help create healthy outcomes for adolescents of color. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Public Health after the completion of her degree.

Sheena Greenstone  is a Navajo Indian and resides on the Navajo Nation about 4 hours north of Phoenix. She is a second year Ph.D. student in the combined school/counseling psychology program at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and a Masters of Education in School Counseling from Northern Arizona University. Sheena has worked in a residential setting that served K-12 students and they stayed on campus Monday-Friday then returning home for the weekend. She also worked as a tutor and in a daycare while in college completing my undergraduate degree. Currently, Sheena is participating in a school psychologist practicum at a local school, though limited, and possibly a counseling practicum in a health care center. Her area of interest is working with Native American communities with a focus on children and adolescents specifically biculturalism and education. She is hoping to understand how culture impacts education and how to increase post-secondary education degrees among Native Americans.

Amanda Hunter is a citizen of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. In 2020, she graduated with a PhD from the Health Promotion Sciences department at the University of Arizona’s Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Amanda also earned her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Arizona. Amanda is currently a postdoctoral scholar with Northern Arizona University’s Center for Health Equity Research. Amanda’s research focuses on the impact of cultural engagement and cultural identity on mental and behavioral health outcomes in Indigenous youth. Her dissertation research involved developing, implementing, and evaluating a culturally-grounded after school program on an urban-based reservation. Amanda is interested in continuing to develop culturally-grounded after school programs for Indigenous youth and is currently seeking funding to work with more communities in Arizona. Her goal is to learn about how increasing cultural engagement can positively impact Indigenous communities while helping youth avoid risky behaviors. Amanda is also excited about creating positive and mutually beneficial partnerships between tribal communities and academic settings.

Doreen Jean-Jacques is a class of 2020 graduate of Psychology from the Florida International University. Currently, she is enrolled in the Masters of Science in Public Health program with a concentration in behavioral health at the University of South Florida. Her passion for community outreach and wellness shows through her experiences focused on improving community health, mental health, and education. Her experiences include the Center for Children and Families of FIU, the Breakthrough Miami Collaborative, and the University of Miami Health Community Clinics. Currently she is focused on utilizing her knowledge to promote behavioral health in under-resourced communities. Her research interests include developmental health and youth development and she is excited for the learning and growth opportunities presented as a member of Cohort 8 of the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse.

Nicole Mallat graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from the University of South Florida (USF) in the Fall of 2018. She is a current second-year graduate student in the master’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health program at the University of South Florida, concentrating in Developmental Disabilities, Children’s Mental Health, and Positive Behavior Support. Nicole has a background in mental health, education, and childcare, as she continues to serve in a public preschool as a full-time early childhood educator. Through this work exposure, Nicole has the opportunity to directly work with children and families in implementing early, proactive interventions, cooperating with school-wide support systems, and collaborating in behavioral plans. Her research and career interests involve youth behavioral health, early identification and community-based interventions, mental health service delivery and accessibility, and health disparities. Nicole is honored to participate as a scholar in the Institute for Translational Research Education and advance research to positively impact the lives of all youth, adolescents, and families.

Kyanna McCafferty graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Shepherd University in 2018 and is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at the University of South Florida. She is interning at Winchester Community Mental Health Center in Winchester, VA, where she counsels clients individually and facilitates mental health groups for the partial hospitalization program. While earning her undergraduate degree, Kyanna interned at Community Networks, inc. where she co-designed and implemented an after-school program to serve youths at the emergency shelter. Kyanna also worked as a recreation assistant in a nursing home for 5 years and as a developmental disability aid for 3 years. In 2019, Kyanna earned a certificate in teaching meditation and children’s yoga through Radiant Child Yoga. Kyanna is interested in researching the effectiveness of practices such as meditation, yoga, and qigong in improving symptoms of mental health disorders. Kyanna is grateful for the opportunity to be a scholar in the Institute for Translational Research Education.

Alexis Patterson graduated from the University of South Florida in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, concentrating on Professional Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology, and minored in Sociology. She is now a graduate student at USF working towards a Master of Social Work degree. Alexis currently works for a political consulting firm in the Tampa Bay area where she has been involved in campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels of government across the state of Florida and beyond. Throughout undergrad, she volunteered with Dawning Family Services (formerly Alpha House of Tampa), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter and support services to families experiencing homelessness. Alexis’s research interests include topics relating to substance use, gender, political sociology, social theory, and inequality, specifically as it relates to wealth distribution. She hopes to work in the field of social policy after graduate school. Alexis is honored, and so excited to be a Scholar in the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse.

Caitlin Pike is a first-year student in University of South Florida’s Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling master’s program. Caitlin received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in both Anthropology and History also from the University of South Florida. As an undergraduate student, Caitlin participated in two study abroad programs in the United Kingdom: Cambridge Summer Schools and the inaugural USF in London program. She was inspired to complete her undergraduate honors thesis based on these experiences and conducted a community service training entitled “Emotional Baggage Doesn’t Have to Weigh You Down: A Workshop on How to Effectively Study Abroad”. The workshop included strategies and planning tips on how to prepare for a study abroad experience for students with mental health concerns.

Caroline Recio is currently enrolled in her second semester in the Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling Master’s program at the University of South Florida, Tampa. In May 2020 she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minors in sociology and American Sign Language at the University of North Florida, Jacksonville. While enrolled at UNF she studied abroad in Iceland at The University of Iceland, Reykjavík and in Scotland at Abertay University, Dundee. She assisted Dr. Lori Lange at UNF in research on PTSD in military veteran students. She led the research participants through two studies and examined stress responses to hearing tests similar to those in the military and emotion stimulating images through body sway and heartrate. In the summer between graduation and the start of graduate school she worked at The Florida Department of Health in Duval County contact tracing, collecting symptom history, and educating individuals who had tested positive for COVID-19. She looks forward to learning and researching with the ITRE certificate program this coming year.

Mia Said is a first-year student in the Master of Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling program at the University of South Florida (USF). She completed her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at USF, as well. As an undergraduate student, she was a neuroscience research volunteer at the Byrd Institute and gained co-authorship for a publication studying how manipulation of the circadian rhythm affects Alzheimer’s Disease. Mia’s Egyptian upbringing in the United States sparked her passion to compare mental health issues between Middle Eastern and American cultures. Consequently, her research interests include studying trauma from substance abuse and intimate partner violence across Middle Eastern cultures. Within her community, she is involved in researching and creating a curriculum to spread awareness regarding mental wellness, in efforts to alleviate the stigma. She plans to pursue her doctoral degree in hopes of becoming an educator, continuing to bridge the gap between cultures. She is honored to be able to participate in this translational research opportunity and is looking forward to bringing a cultural perspective into this year’s cohort.

Amelia Sterenberg is a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Northern Arizona University at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish from Calvin University in 2019. While there, Amelia participated in Phage Biological Research through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In 2019, Amelia was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Spain, where she spent the year working as an English teaching assistant in an elementary classroom and engaging in cross-cultural interactions to build mutual understanding. She is excited to utilize the skills and knowledge base developed through this program to assist her future clients, as her interest lies in transitional age youth, and prepare her for future research involvements.

Anna Tedder has just completed the Master of Science degree program in Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health with a concentration in Youth Mental Health at the University of South Florida as well as the Master of Arts degree program in Exceptional Student Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of West Florida in December. Throughout her career she has worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities who also have mental and behavioral health challenges. She currently works in a Florida school district as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst in the Alternative Education Department. Her primary focus is working with elementary schools to provide training and support to teachers working with students who have experienced significant trauma, have been diagnosed with a mental health or behavioral disorder as well as those students who struggle with being able to remain in the general education classroom due to disruptive or aggressive behavior. Anna’s research interests include the use of Social Emotional Learning as an early intervention for mental health and behavioral disorders, providing school-based services for students with behavior and conduct disorders, trauma informed care and alternative programming for students in the public school with mental health, behavior and substance abuse disorders. She is excited and honored to have been selected to be a Cohort 8 Scholar in the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse.

Crystal Ukaegbu is a resilient, forthcoming emerging public health leader. Both of her parents immigrated to America from Nigeria. She was born in the Bronx, NY. She attended the University of Bridgeport for her first Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences with a minor in Human Services. She continued her education by attending the next SUNY Downstate Medical Center for her Master's in Public Health degree. She is currently a 1st year Doctor of Public Health student attending New York Medical College committed to expanding access to quality healthcare among underserved communities. Currently, she is working with the CDC at JFK Airport Quarantine Station, Border Health Services Branch as a Public Health Analyst. Assisting with combating the COVID-19 pandemic through conducting secondary and tertiary screenings, conducting contact investigations, and infection prevention protocols. Providing public health expertise to clinical, epidemiological, and technical experts in response to reports of illnesses in travelers related to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. She has served and worked on initiatives with hospital systems, community clinics, non-profits, and federal & city government agencies. She has experience conducting case investigations, disease outbreak surveillance, epidemiological research studies, gathering, managing, and analyzing data; survey deployment, report writing, infectious disease control & prevention protocol implementation, statistical analysis (SAS & STATA) and providing medical, behavioral, and social resources and services to various types of patients. Her research interests include: Infectious Diseases, Racial Disparities in Women's Health, Geriatric Care, Health Policies, Cancer Prevention & Control, and Global Health issues.

Cohort 7 ITRE Scholars

COHORT 7 (2020-2021)

Samantha Boddupalli is a first-year student in the Master of Public Health program at the University of South Florida with a concentration in Epidemiology. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a specialization in Biochemistry and a minor in Health Disparities in Society at the University of Florida. She is currently a graduate research assistant in the field of social marketing and with the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health at USF. As an undergraduate student she was a research assistant in the field of applied behavioral analysis with the Iwata lab and completed an internship with the Neuromedicine department at Shands hospital focused on quality improvement in patient care. Her research interests include health disparities, patient-centered care, memory function and adolescent behavioral health. She hopes to become a physician after completing her degree in public health.

Jennifer Devla is a second-year doctoral student in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida (USF), specializing in Community and Family Health. In 2016, Jennifer graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Florida State University and continued her education earning a Master’s of Public Health in Public Health Education from USF in 2018. For her special project, Jennifer collected and analyzed qualitative data to assess the health needs and concerns of refugee children from key informants in Florida. She currently serves as a research assistant for the Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Men and Boys initiative. Simply stated, the initiative aims to support community-based initiatives to promote mental health and wellbeing among vulnerable men and boys, particularly those of color and of veteran status. Jennifer's research interests include culturally responsive evaluations of community-based mental health interventions, especially as it relates to racial/ethnic minority youth, children of refugee/immigrant families, and those exposed to toxic stress.

Emily Farber is currently pursuing an Occupational Therapy Doctorate at Northern Arizona University. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Arizona State University. In her undergraduate program, she served as a research assistant in the Sensory Motor Development Lab researching the effects of assisted cycling therapy on the motor and cognitive processes of adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. As a second-year doctoral student, Emily is researching the effectiveness of transition programs for youth aging out of the foster care system. In addition, she serves on an event committee for a local foster care agency. Her current research topics of interest include trauma-informed care, lymphedema, neurological disorders, and cancer-related health disparities. Emily is honored to represent Northern Arizona University as a Scholar for the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse.

Lauren Futral is a graduate of Stetson University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2013. She earned her degree in elementary education, with an ESL endorsement and Florida State teaching certificate. After two years of teaching middle and elementary students, she began working toward her MSW degree at the University of South Florida. Lauren is currently working toward her MSW as a second-year student. As Lauren wraps up her master’s degree, she is also working on expanding her research and knowledge to include adolescents and substance use, both of which she is deeply passionate about. She currently interns at Largo Medical Center in the partial hospitalization program, and inpatient services. Lauren is hopeful to expand the PHP program to further incorporate adolescents and/or substance abuse programs, both of which the hospital is working towards.

Stacy Grundy has over 12 years of experience as a health director and program specialist in the areas of maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, and community engagement and capacity development. Currently, she is an Assistant Instructor for the Department of Population Science and Policy at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine where she serves as the process evaluator for a National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse funded project that seeks to implement harm reduction strategies among people who inject drugs in the rural Illinois delta region. Stacy also is a co-owner of Route History, a museum and tourist attraction that highlights the experiences of Black people along Historic U.S. Route 66 and in the city of Springfield Illinois during the Jim Crow era. Stacy holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences from the University Of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and she is currently a third-year doctoral student majoring in Advanced Practice Leadership in Public Health at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health. Her current research explores faith leaders' perceptions related to the development of needle exchange programs in the rural Illinois Delta region. Her research interests include rural behavioral health service delivery, community engagement, health equity, and social justice.

Lendi Joy is a doctoral student at the University of South Florida (USF) pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology. Lendi currently works as a student clinician at USF’s Psychological Services Center on campus, conducting learning disability, ADHD, and other psychological assessments as well as therapy with children and families. She is also interning with Hillsborough County Public Schools working with children who receive counseling as a support through their IEP. As a student researcher at Johns Hopkins All Children's, Lendi has explored various topics in pediatric psychology and she has a genuine passion for understanding factors that influence risk and resilience for maladaptive behaviors in adolescents. Lendi also very passionate about translating evidence based research into practice and bridging the gap between academics and community agencies. She is honored to be a scholar in the Institute for Translational Research Education.

Marina Martinez-Rivera graduated with her Bachelor of Public Health and Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Florida in Spring of 2019. She is a current graduate student in the Master of Public Health program with a concentration in Behavioral Health at the University of South Florida. She has volunteer and work experience through her involvement at UF HealthStreet and UF Southern HIV Alcohol and Research Consortium (SHARC). As a first-year student, she currently volunteers with Florida DanceSafe, a non-profit that aims to provide harm reduction resources to the Florida music community, and Safe Exchange Tampa program, a non-profit that aims to provide Narcan education and distribution within the state. Her research interests include topics related to HIV/AIDS, substance use and abuse, mental health, and better understanding of harm reduction approaches. Marina is grateful and honored to represent the University of South Florida as a Scholar for the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse.

Erin McGuire graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida in 2014. She is currently in her second year of the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Master’s Program with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Erin has a background in education, having worked with middle school students in instructional support positions and as a classroom teacher. She also has done work as a behavior therapist across in-home, clinic, and school settings. Her research interests include prevention practices and the role parents and families play in the prevention process. Specifically, how families can be involved in prevention and early intervention programs. Her future career goals are to continue working in the Tampa Bay area in a school-based program that supports children and increases the role and participation of families.

Kayla Nembhard obtained her Bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a minor in sociology, from the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg (USFSP). After gaining a couple of years of experience engaging in a research lab at USFSP, she continued on to eventually earn her Master’s in applied psychology at New York University. She is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in infant and family mental health with the Infant Family Center/Family Study Center at USFSP. Kayla’s methods of clinical practice center collaboration with community and neighborhood-based systems in efforts to bring about a paradigm shift in how minority mental health issues and disparities are analyzed and then addressed as a result. She currently organizes and facilitates a community of practice that offers a unique opportunity for early childhood educators and providers in south St. Petersburg to come together toward collective and transformative action in the field. Kayla is currently pursuing her Master’s of Science in Public Health with a concentration in behavioral health at USF on the continued mission to produce more relevant and effective methods of mental health care and outcomes for Black people.  

Kalie Plesher is a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Northern Arizona University. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Arizona State University in 2017 and her Master’s Degree in Mental Health and Wellness from Grand Canyon University in 2019. Kalie was a Registered Behavioral Technician and worked with children with Autism for five years and has worked as a therapy aide at Barrow Inpatient Neurological Rehab in Phoenix, Arizona for the last three years. Kalie has interests in neurodevelopmental disabilities, behavioral health, mental health and working with special populations. Kalie has previous experience as a research assistant in a Sensorimotor Development Research Lab at Arizona State University that worked with individuals with Down syndrome, ADHD and stroke survivors and is trained in a variety of different neurobehavioral and functional assessments. She is looking forward to furthering her experience in research and is honored to be able to bring an occupational therapy perspective into Translational Research for Adolescent Behavioral Health.

Bryan Saul is a first year graduate student in Applied Sociology with a concentration in Sociology of Health as well as Environment, Sustainability, and Globalization at Northern Arizona University (NAU). He is also seeking a graduate certificate in Ethnic Studies. Bryan earned his Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Philosophy at NAU in 2019. Bryan currently serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for undergraduate Sociology courses. His research interests are focused on primary and secondary data collection and analysis pertaining to community and social interventions regarding sociological conditions that affect substance abuse in adolescence. With his research, he hopes to highlight positive programs and new policies to advise widespread policy reform. Bryan is greatly encouraged by translational research and evidence based programs and is excited to advance his personal experiences and skillset through the Institute for Translational Research Education.

Brooke Tubbs is a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Occupational at Northern Arizona University. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Physiology and Health Science. While there, she investigated how tattoos can affect sweat rate for her honor’s thesis. In 2018-2019 Brooke was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship where she spent 9 months researching Filipino teachers’ perceptions of Inclusive Education while living in the Philippines. She hopes to apply what she learns through this program to her clients as a future Occupational Therapist and develop an idea for the place Occupational Therapy might have within the transition process

Cohort 6

COHORT 6 (2019 - 2020)

B. Michelle Beekman - Michelle graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida in 2014. During her time in the Psychology Department, she participated in the Psychology Honors Program in which she developed her honors thesis on the topic of intrasexual competition among college women and how it affects body image thoughts and behaviors. She is currently a second-year graduate student in USF’s College of Behavioral and Community Sciences Ph.D. Program. While at USF she has worked in various labs entering data and transcribing sensitive interviews. Currently, she is a TA for a course on Behavioral Health & the Family in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy with plans to teach the course over the summer. Her main research interests include discovering ways to teach self-regulation to children with behavioral disorders and implementing innovative ways to increase mental health literacy and reduce mental health stigma. She is honored to be a scholar in the Institute for Translational Research Education.

Casey Blaesing - Casey is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Northern Arizona University, College of Health and Human Services. Casey has research experience in analyzing the effectiveness of transition programs for youth aging out of the foster care system. Her current research interests include pediatric oncology and neurodevelopmental disabilities, and how these affect individuals’ overall mental and behavioral health; foster care youth; and the impact of practicing therapy with and without a language barrier. Casey also has interest in the importance of motivational interviewing. She has volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and Opportunity, Community, & Justice for kids, which serves foster care youth in Arizona. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Health and Human Physiology with minors in Spanish, Psychology, and Aging Studies from the University of Iowa in spring 2017.

Tessa Burt - Tessa is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Northern Arizona University. Tessa graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Arizona State University in 2008 and her Master’s Degree in Teaching from Northern Arizona University in 2013. Tessa taught high school science for 5 years before starting her doctoral program. Tessa is currently part of a research project looking at transition services for youth who are aging out of foster care. Tessa’s research interests include cognitive development, foster care youth, and resilience.

James-Angelo DeLeon Suarez - James graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Minor in Public Health at the University of South Florida in 2011.  He moved on to finish his Master in Public Health with a concentration in Behavioral Health at USF in 2014. He is currently an after-school teacher for students with learning disabilities, and is in his first semester as a member of the 6th Cohort of the Institute of Translational Research Education at USF.  His research interests include determining Social Marketing mechanisms that can be beneficial to reducing stigma and increasing awareness of adolescent mental health and substance use issues. James is also interested in Translational Research and Dissemination/Implementation Science in the Behavioral Health field.  He intends to combine his research interests in the pursuit of a doctoral degree program.

Mayra Elsherbeiny - Mayra Elsherbeiny received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Georgia State University.  She is a graduate student in the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program at the University of South Florida, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences.  As a second-year student, Mayra is an intern with TrueCore Behavioral Solutions at Palmetto Youth Academy, a residential facility where she works with adolescent males in the juvenile justice system with substance use disorders, mood disorders, conduct disorders, anxiety, and ADHD.  Her research interests lie in drawing connections between trauma, the healing of trauma, and mental wellness.  Her future career goals include working with individuals and couples experiencing issues with substance abuse and sexual compulsivity, mood disorders, dissociative disorders, and early trauma experiences.  She is also interested in working with the at-risk adolescent community, specifically in supporting and promoting wellness and making a positive difference in an effort to affect change.  Mayra is honored to represent the University of South Florida as a Scholar for the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse.

Angela Garza - Angela is completing her final semester as a Master of Social Work Degree student at the University of South Florida.  She is an intern at Pasco Kids First Trauma Treatment Program, serving children ages 3-18 (and their families) who have experienced sexual and physical abuse, domestic violence, traumatic grief and community violence.  She currently works for WestBridge Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center as a part of the Assertive Community Treatment team, supporting the sobriety, wellness and overall health of men who are in recovery for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.  Her research interests include the impact of childhood trauma on individuals, families and the community, resilience, neuroplasticity, and evidence-based trauma treatments and interventions.  After graduating, Angela hopes to pursue a PhD Degree and earn certification as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  Angela earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Legal Studies in 2009 from Florida Gulf Coast University.

John "JJ" Jackson, III - JJ is currently a Master’s Degree Candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. JJ’s current research interests are centered on evidence-based interventions in counseling queer youth of color, communities most impacted by HIV/AIDS through a mental health context, syndemic factors and social determinants of health that influence the sexual behaviors of gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM). JJ also has interests in vicarious trauma and how that affects help-seeking behaviors for queer persons of color, as well as the concept of resilience as a coping mechanism for individuals of color. JJ currently works as a Care Coordinator at a non-profit LGBTQ safe space, engaging youth living with HIV/AIDS back into care as well as maintaining a current caseload of young people living with HIV/AIDS to monitor for adherence. JJ earned their Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a Double Minor is Social Work and Psychology from the GREAT Bethune-Cookman University. JJ plans to pursue their Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Terrell Jackson - Terrell Jackson grew up in the nation’s oldest city of Saint Augustine, Fl. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Florida Atlantic University. Mr. Jackson serves as the Care Coordinator for PrEP at JASMYN (Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network), a non-profit located in Jacksonville, Fl., where he coordinates the sexual health clinic; providing testing and treatment services, linkage to PrEP: The HIV Preventative Pill; and, provides personalized cognitive counseling for LGBT minority youth ages 13-29. He is also an intern with Equality Florida, a Civil Rights organization, where he works as part of the HIV advocacy project speaking to legislators about modernizing HIV laws in hopes of reducing transmission vulnerability, especially in young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and Trans Youth Communities. Mr. Jackson has a passion for social justice and public health, especially as it pertains to biomedical research and youth cognitive development. He has been a guest speaker on the Society and Culture Podcast “DckAndDaBox” and a Speaker at the United States Conference On AIDS for the “Act Up! Turning Your Narrative Into Initiative” Youth Panel. He serves as a 2018 BABI (Build A Brother Institute) institute scholar, which focuses on professional leadership development of Black gay and bisexual men in the U.S. South. Mr. Jackson is also the founder of The RootED Initiative, a social media-based campaign focused on promoting self-care practices and advocating its importance in LGBT mental and sexual health. He has an interest in conducting research on how religion informs cultural and social norms, like masculinity and gender expectations, and affects identity development in LGBTQ black youth. In spring 2020, he plans to get Masters in Public Health with a focus in Epidemiology and Health Policy.

Tara Kemp - Tara Kemp is a student at Northern Arizona University studying in the Interdisciplinary Health PhD program with an emphasis in psychosocial health. She is a graduate assistant researcher with the PRANDIAL lab, where she is working with a longitudinal study on plant-based nutrition, health outcomes, and behavior change in adult women. Her dissertation is exploring the role of nutrition and nutrition education in early addiction recovery outcomes. She is particularly interested in the inner self-work of forming self-compassion and resiliency.

Natasha Kurji - Natasha Kurji is a doctoral student pursuing her PhD at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health with a concentration in health services research. Natasha has her Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology from Emory University and her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from University of South Florida (USF). Her research interests center around access and quality of behavioral health care. Natasha serves as the project coordinator for Depression Army, an international campaign aiming to address the stigma surrounding mental illness and promote a safe haven for those silently suffering. She also works as a Graduate Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant at USF and is a mentor for both Tampa Bay Tech High School and the Maternal and Child Health Pipeline program. She has recently served as Vice President for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hillsborough chapter and hopes to continue serving her community through her research.

Claire Lipton - Claire graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art Therapy at The University of Tampa in 2015. After several years of engaging in creative and holistic practices in health care, she decided to continue her education in pursuit of serving patients with chronic illness at an advanced capacity. Claire is a concurrent degree-seeking student pursuing a Master’s in Public Health and a Master’s in Social Work at the University of South Florida. As a first-year student, Claire is an intern at Tampa General Hospital where she works with adults suffering from complex medical diagnoses. Her main research interests include health disparities among populations at risk, specifically adolescents and improving best practices among practitioners within health care systems.

Suzanne McWilliams - Sue is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Northern Arizona University School of Nursing where she teaches a Geriatric/Palliative Care Practicum, Nursing Preceptorship and Introduction to Nursing as a Profession. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing. Her doctoral project is on Compassion Fatigue in Family Caregivers of an Adolescent with a Mental Health Disorder. The project focus is to implement and disseminate current research on compassion fatigue in family caregivers in a Residential Treatment Center.  She is a co-investigator in a longitudinal research project “Differences in self-compassion and compassion for others among nursing and physical therapy students, faculty and instructors”.

Lindsey Noland - Lindsey is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health Degree in the Behavioral Health Concentration at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Sciences from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Florida in 2017. Her work in behavioral health has focused primarily in substance abuse and addictions research within the Health Outcomes and Behavior Division of Moffitt Cancer Center. For the past several years, she worked on a smoking cessation clinical trial testing the effectiveness of two evidence-based cessation interventions for smokers of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Her current research interests include substance abuse treatment and comorbid mental and physical disorders, particularly in the chronic illness population. Her future plans after the completion of her degree include pursing a professional degree in Physician Assistant Studies, where she hopes to become a healthcare practitioner, specializing in psychiatric and mental health. She is honored to represent the University of South Florida as a Scholar for the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse.

Vesna Pepic - Vesna is a doctoral student in the Combined Counseling/School Psychology PhD Degree program at Northern Arizona University. She recently earned her Bachelor’s in Science Education from The University of Arizona in 2017 where she explored her passion for teaching. She has prior research experience working with young adults in assessing student learning at the college level within the state of Arizona. She has interests in translational research and implementation sciences within the context of education. Her current research interests include assessing self-care, positive discipline, and mindfulness and the implementation of these practices within the school system. She hopes to become a licensed psychologist working primarily with children and adolescents within schools and through community based programs.

Sarah Shahady - Sarah is a Master of Public Health student at the University of South Florida. Her concentration is in behavioral health. She received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Infection Control from the University of South Florida in 2017. She is currently working for the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County while attending school. Her interests are in behavioral health, adolescent health and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues. From a young age, she found that she was passionate about working with children. After graduating, she hopes to stay in the Tampa Bay area and work for a non-profit organization and implement programs to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

Shaylynne Shuler - Shaylynne is completing her final semester as Master’s student in Anthropology and her first year as doctoral student in Interdisciplinary Health at Northern Arizona University. Her research interests include minority stress, health equity, LGBTQ+ health and access to health care, religion and symbolism. Currently, her Master’s Thesis in Anthropology focuses on minority stress and the impact participation in conservative Christianity has on the mental health outcomes of sexual gender minorities. Shaylynne is also interested in suicide and suicide behaviors in LGBTQ youth and is currently working on her dissertation proposal with the hopes of creating an effective intervention for LGBTQ+ youth contemplating suicide who live in a highly religious or conservative area of the United States. She is currently a graduate assistant with Dr. Sean Gregory examining the relationship between religiosity and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Shaylynne graduated with two Bachelor of Science degrees in 2013 in Microbiology and Anthropology, and a Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree in Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Psychology.

Amanda Weston - Amanda is a second year PhD student in the Behavioral and Community Sciences program at the University of South Florida. She earned her Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Her research interests include technology addiction with a concentration in video games and how technology affects developmental, social, and behavioral processes for children and adolescents. She is currently a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI) working at Rogers Behavioral Health where she specifically works with children, adolescents, and adults with mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and dual diagnosis. She is also a graduate research assistant with the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program working on two federal grants aimed at implementing services to assist individuals with disabilities gain competitive employment. She hopes to continue working within community-based organizations providing treatment as a clinician and to complete a post doctorate exploring evidence-based treatment interventions to treat gaming disorder on a global scale.

ITRE Cohort 5

COHORT 5 (2018 – 2019)

Amanda Armstrong - Amanda is currently pursuing two Master's Degrees in Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health as well as Criminology at the University of South Florida. Her research interests include how parenting practices affect child and adolescent behavioral health outcomes. Currently, her Master's Thesis in Criminology focuses on the impact parenting practices have on truant adolescents' drug use and symptoms of depression and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Amanda is also interested in program evaluation, translational research, and implementation sciences within the context of behavioral health. She currently assists researchers evaluating the Medication-Assisted Drug Court Treatment (MADCT) Program for offenders with prescription drug issues. Additionally, Amanda is the Editorial Associate for the Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, and tutors student-athletes in a variety of courses within the academic fields of social and behavioral sciences. She was recently accepted into USF's doctoral program in Behavioral & Community Science, and hopes to combine her passion for research, teaching, and community service into a professional career upon graduation.

Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth - Amy is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Northern Arizona University on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. Amy graduated with a doctoral degree from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in the spring of 2014. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Human Development & Family Studies from the University of Missouri in 1992 and her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 1997. Amy has 20 years clinical pediatric occupational therapy experience. Her research interests include neurodevelopmental disabilities, influences of trauma on development, empowerment through health literacy, and foster care youth. Amy currently serves as President of the Arizona Occupational Therapy Association. She is also a board member for Opportunity, Community, & Justice for Kids, which serves foster care youth in Arizona.

Tracy Bales - Tracy is pursuing a Master's in Public Health Degree in the Behavioral Health Concentration at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. She earned her Bachelor of Design from the College of Architecture at the University of Florida and after a career in interior architecture, went on to complete her post bachelorette degree in psychology at USF. Her psychology honors thesis focused on the effects of priming and implicit thought on health decision making and goal setting behaviors. She worked to develop a children's safety program with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and has lectured about child safety issues. Her primary research interests include health decision-making; depression, including treatment effects of mindfulness-based cognitive behavior therapy and art therapy; the effect of visual arts-based learning on health care providers as a means of developing communication; teamwork and empathy skills; and issues related to girls' self-esteem and female objectification.

Dylan Bilyeu - Dylan graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Western Illinois University (WIU) in 2014. During his time at WIU, he participated in a Social Psychology lab in which he developed his honors thesis on the topic of Terror Management Theory and Gender Role Stereotypes. He is currently a 2nd year graduate student at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and is finishing his Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. While at NAU, he has been conducting research on wellness and resilience. Currently, his research interests include adverse childhood experiences and resilience. His future goals are to pursue a PhD Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision and to earn his LPC.

Julie Cheney - Julie is a first-year master's student in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department at Northern Arizona University. Her main research interests are to analyze crime patterns, study violent homicides, and investigate sociopathic behavior. She hopes to eventually become an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Julie is interested in researching women in prisons or interviewing exonerees for her master's thesis. She is honored to represent Northern Arizona University as a Scholar for the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse. Julie earned her Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Arizona... "Bear Down"!

Joshua Zaris Goldman - Joshua is completing his final semester as a Master of Social Work Degree student and Graduate Student Success Fellow at the University of South Florida. He previously worked on multiple social work and public health research studies as a USF Graduate Assistant, and continues to assist in a voluntary role. At last year's American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Joshua presented the initial findings of an exploratory study about the impact of the Swamp Apes, a program taking veterans into the Everglades National Park on service projects, with data suggesting it promotes healing from trauma and helps the transition back to civilian life. Joshua currently interns at Suncoast Hospice doing grief counseling. He plans on one day pursuing his PhD, with interests in trauma, mindfulness, and children and family counseling.

Molly Hahn-Floyd - Molly is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Northern Arizona University, College of Health and Human Services. Molly's current research interests include the effects of sensory integration on mental and behavioral health and the effects of the foster care system on mental and behavioral health of children and adolescents. She wants to establish a future career in research and policy serving marginalized populations. Molly is currently a Graduate Research Assistant in developing an executive skills assessment for middle and high school students with autism. She has also volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and OCJ Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides services including mentorships to children and adolescents in foster care. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences with an emphasis in Sports Conditioning and Training from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in 2012.

Jade Heffern - Jade is a doctoral student in the combined Counseling/School Psychology PhD Degree program at Northern Arizona University. She has prior research experience working with at-risk rural, low socioeconomic status families through community-based parent interventions within the state of Arizona, which is an area that is dear to her heart and that she would like to continue researching. Her current research interests include mindfulness, health psychology, and effective treatments for childhood disorders. She hopes to become a licensed psychologist working primarily with children and adolescents. She recently earned her Master of Counseling Degree in August 2017, and she graduated with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from The University of Arizona in 2014.

Rebecca Liller - Rebecca is a first year master's student in the Department of Community and Family Health (Behavioral Health Concentration) at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health after earning her Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology at Saint Leo University in Dade City, Florida. She is currently working for the Center for Urban Transportation Research as a Graduate Assistant with the ITS traffic and operations safety team. Her main research interests are traumatic brain injury and cognitive development in children and adolescents, the epidemiology of mental disorders in individuals within the juvenile justice system, and education of drug impact on brain development. She has a passion for working with children and adolescents and preventing new injuries or illness through education. She has volunteered at the Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, where she worked on a variety of research projects with children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has also volunteered at Suncoast Kids Place, where she worked with children and families grieving after the loss of a loved one.

John Martin - John is a first-year doctoral degree student in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, He is currently working is a Graduate Assistant for a course in behavioral health policy and comorbidities. He is originally from Columbia, South Carolina where he completed his undergraduate studies and had his first research experiences in coding and data entry as well as working with black families on positive aspiration and motivation research in the African American Youth Development Lab (AAYDL) at the University of South Carolina.

Amanda Sharp - Amanda is a first year PhD Degree student in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree from Boston University and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). Her research interests include the utilization of patient-centered care and therapeutic alliance for behavior change, particularly in the field of substance abuse treatment and harm reduction. She previously worked in opioid overdose prevention in Boston and has consulted nationally to integrate patient-centered communication approaches in health care settings. She is currently involved in the intervention arm (as a recovery coach) on implementation research studies focused on patient engagement and activation. She is a graduate assistant at ACTS where she is performing a program evaluation of their medication assisted treatment program and working to implement a naloxone utilization tracking project. She hopes to continue working in behavioral health community-based organizations where she can contribute to improving care and empowering patients.

Lacey Tucker - Lacey is a dual degree student pursuing a Master's in Public Health and a Master's in Social Work Degrees at the University of South Florida. As a second-year student, Lacey is an intern at Roger's Behavioral Health where she specifically works with children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, and autism spectrum disorders. Her main research interests include behavioral health prevention programming through the education system of k-12 schools, in addition to increasing behavioral health services in rural communities. After graduating, Lacey hopes to pursue a PhD Degree in Public Health and earn a certification as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Lacey earned her Bachelor's Degree in Behavioral Healthcare (Concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis) in 2015 from the University of South Florida.

Renee Wallace - Renee is a first-year Master of Public Health student at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health. With a Concentration in Public Health Education, Renee's interests include translational research, community planning and engagement, behavioral health, and youth empowerment. She currently works as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Champions for Children - USF Alliance. In this role, she assesses organizational and participant characteristics that affect the success of the family-focused Triple P intervention. She plans to serve as an advocate for minority and underserved populations, promoting social justice, eliminating health disparities, and creating awareness around behavioral health. In 2015, Renée earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science at Florida State University with Concentrations in Chemistry and Child Development.

ITRE Cohort 4

COHORT 4 (2017 – 2018)

Andre Clark - Andre earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of South Florida and currently works as a social emotional program specialist for Frameworks, a non-profit organization.

Nicole Crawford - Nicole is a licensed clinical social worker and works as the clinic coordinator for the USF Memory Disorders Clinic. She is a DrPH student and previously earned her Bachelor of Arts in Gerontology, Master of Social Work, Master of Public Health, and Certification in Public Health at the University of South Florida.

Caitlin Hill - Caitlin is pursuing her master's degree in psychology at the University of South Florida-Saint Petersburg and plans to pursue a doctorate in public health. She completed her undergraduate studies in psychology at Kent State University.

Amanda (Jennings) Farris - Amanda is a master's student in the School of Social Work at the University of South Florida, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. She is currently an MSW intern with Pasco County Schools and volunteers with Suncoast Kids Place, an agency dedicated to providing peer support groups and activities for children, teens and their families following the death of a loved one.

Lauren Julian - Lauren works as a research support specialist with the Department of Child and Family Studies in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida. She earned her bachelor of science in criminology at the University of South Florida in 2009.

Jason Kora - Jason currently works for a large managed care organization in Tampa and is aiming to eventually attain a master's degree in public health. He earned a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of South Florida in 2011.

Jana Leyrer - Jana is a master's student in the Department of Community and Family Health at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor of arts in cognitive psychology.

Alexis McKinley - Alexis recently graduated with a bachelor's in public health at Northern Arizona University. She plans on going to the University of Arizona for a master's in public health and aspires to become a certified health education specialist.

Monica Rousseau - Monica is a DrPH student at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health. She earned her master of public health at the University of South Florida in 2012, is certified in public health, and is a certified health education specialist.

Sarah Sheffield - Sarah is a master's student in the Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at the University of South Florida, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. She earned a bachelor of arts in psychology with a minor in behavioral health at the University of South Florida and Hillsborough Community College Honors Institute.

Vanessa Tate - Vanessa is pursuing a master's in public health with a concentration in behavioral health. She earned her bachelor's degree in 2007 from the University of South Florida in women's studies and sociology.

Enya Vroom - Enya is a master's student in the Department of Child and Family Studies at the University of South Florida, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. She earned her bachelor of arts at USF, where she majored in psychology and minored in history.

ITRE Cohort 3

Cohort 3 ( 2015 – 2016)

Monica Chambers - Monica recently graduated with a master of arts in rehabilitation and mental health counseling at USF. She earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy and has a desire to serve the community.

Melody Chavez - Melody is a national registered dietitian and currently works at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and Clinics. She earned her master of public health from USF in 2015 and bachelor of science in human nutrition and food service from New Mexico State University in 2004.

Ericka Duncan - Ericka is a master's student at USF in the Department of Community and Family Health with a concentration in health education. Ericka has research experience as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Illinois Public Health Association at the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Elizabeth "Lee" Dunn-Gader - Lee is a master of public health student with a behavioral health concentration in the College of Public Health, Department of Community and Family Health at the University of South Florida. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from USF.

Aldenise Ewing - Aldenise is a doctoral student in the Department of Community and Family Health at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health. In 2011, she earned her master of public health in behavioral science and health education at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health and earned her bachelor of arts from Vanderbilt University in Spanish and medicine, health and society in 2009.

Sarah (Lokey) Gonzalez - Sarah is a graduate student in social work at the University of South Florida and aspires to study public health in the future. She earned a bachelor of science with honors in legal studies and a certificate in victim advocacy from the University of Central Florida.

Shalay Jackson - Shalay is a school social worker for the Citrus County School Board and an adjunct professor at Saint Leo University, serving human services and social work students. She earned a bachelor of social work from Florida State University and a master of social work at the University of Michigan.

Gina-Maria Roca - Gina-Maria is a master of science in public health student in the Department of Community and Family Health the University of South Florida. She earned a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Tampa.

Christine Rollins - Christine is an art therapist and social worker in the Tampa Bay area, and is a master of public health student with a concentration in behavioral health at the University of South Florida. She earned a master of social work from the University of South Florida in 2014, and a master of arts in art therapy from George Washington University in 2001.

Vinita Sharma - Vinita is a doctoral student in the Department of Community and Family Health at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health. Vinita earned a bachelor of public health from Pokhara University and a master of public health at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is a certified trainer of community oriented primary care (COPC).

Mariana Stavig - Mariana earned her bachelor of arts in anthropology and gender and sexuality studies from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. While applying for a PhD in counseling psychology, Mariana pursued two graduate certificates: translational research in adolescent behavioral health and children's mental health.

Ashley Walker - Ashley earned a bachelor of science degree in public health and currently works for a non-profit organization, Frameworks of Tampa Bay. Ashley plans to pursue a master of science in public health with a concentration in public health education.

ITRE Cohort 2

COHORT 2 ( 2014 – 2015)

Shawna Green - Shawna is currently pursuing a PhD at USF in public health with a focus on adolescent behavioral health. She previously earned her master of social work and master of arts in public policy and management.

Jessica Koelsch - Jessica earned her master of public health with a concentration in behavioral health and is certified in public health. She is also a certified health education specialist.

Kristen McCallum - Kristen earned her master of science in mental health counseling and is currently practicing as a licensed mental health counselor.

Lauren Nieder - Lauren is currently pursuing a master of science in public health with a focus in behavioral health. Florence "Flossie" Parsley - Flossie earned her master of social work and is a school social work services coordinator for Hillsborough County Public Schools.

Sharlene Smith - Sharlene recently earned her doctor of nursing practice at USF and is an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at USF. She is also an advanced registered nurse practitioner and a certified pediatric nurse practitioner.

Ashley Souza - Ashley recently earned her master of public health with a concentration in behavioral health from USF. She is currently working at the University of Tampa.

Bailey Thompson - Bailey earned her bachelor of science in public health from USF and was a peer health educator at USF's Wellness Center. She plans to pursue a degree in nursing.

Jessica Vazquez - Jessica earned her education specialist degree in school psychology and a master of science in school psychology from USF. She is currently a school psychologist intern in Cleveland.

Heather Walders - Heather earned her master of public health (concentration in behavioral health) and master of social work at USF and is certified in public health. She currently works as a clinician with a health care agency in Tampa.

ITRE Cohort 1

COHORT 1 (2013 – 2014)

Alexandra Albizu-Rivera - Alex earned her master of public health with a concentration in behavioral health from USF and is currently working as a technical assistance liaison on a SAMHSA grant and as a research coordinator at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.

Nichole (Snyder) Fintel - Nichole earned her master of science in public health from USF and is currently a technical assistance liaison for a SAMHSA grant.

Shivani Gogna - Shivani earned her master of public health with a concentration in global health from USF and is certified in public health.
Chanelle Henderson - Chanelle earned her master of arts in rehabilitation and mental health counseling at USF and is a certified rehabilitation counselor. She is a licensed professional counselor resident in Roanoke, Va.

Humberto Lopez Castillo - Humberto is a postdoctoral research fellow at USF in Mental Health Law & Policy and earned his PhD in public health with a focus in behavioral health. He has also earned a doctor of medicine from the University of Panama, a master of education from Latin American University for Science and Technology, and a master of clinical sciences with a concentration in pediatrics from the University of Panama.

Mathew Lynch - Mathew earned his PhD in criminology from USF. He also holds a master of science in education in community, agency, and mental health counseling from Duquesne University and a bachelor of arts in psychology and English from Washington and Jefferson College.

Vickie Lynn - Vickie is a doctoral student and adjunct professor at USF in the College of Public Health with a focus in behavioral health. Vickie previously earned her master of public health (concentration in behavioral health) and master of social work.

Andrew McFarlane - Andrew earned his master of arts in counseling and is a certified addictions professional. He is the director for Prevention and Health Services for a community-based health care agency in Tampa.

Kimberly Menendez - Kimberly earned her master of science in educational leadership and is a certified prevention specialist. She is the senior curriculum writer for a non-profit focused on preventing adolescent substance use.

Catherine "Cat" Randall - Cat earned her PhD in social work from USF and is a licensed clinical social worker for Hillsborough County Public Schools.

Tommi Lynn Rivers - Tommi earned her bachelor of arts in psychology and works as a senior quality improvement analyst for a large managed care organization.

Monica (Solomon) Simmonds - Monica earned her master of science in public health with a focus in behavioral health from USF and is a certified health education specialist.

Kristina Soderstrom - Kristina earned her master of social work from USF. She currently works with adolescent girls as a counselor for a non-profit agency.

Sara Beth Wolicki - Sara earned her master of public health with a concentration in health education at USF. She is certified in public health and is a public health grand rounds fellow for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ITRE

The Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse is supported by the National Institute on Substance Use of the National Institutes of Health under award number R25DA031103.