Our People

I am an applied behavioral scientist with expertise in the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based strategies to improve health and academic outcomes among children, adolescents, and adults. My training was in prevention science, psychology, and public health. My research is based on a socio-ecological perspective, and I am particularly interested in assessing how policies, practices and evidence-based programs are implemented, and the subsequent impacts on people’s health and well-being. For nearly 30 years, I have worked as part of interdisciplinary research teams to develop and test interventions to improve the social environments where children and youth spend their time. Currently, most of my work is focused on building partnerships to create school settings that support the physical, social, and emotional well-being of students and educators.

I am a health behavior researcher with interest in determining the most effective programs and policies to support holistic health. My work to date has predominantly focused on identifying school-based wellness strategies to support the whole child, with a focus on the critical aspects of wellness that influence student health and academic achievement. Currently, I am a co-investigator on several large research studies, including two randomized controlled trials, and a national survey of elementary school physical activity and nutrition policies.