I have been a registered nurse in North Carolina since 1991. In 1993, I received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Barton College, Wilson, NC. I earned master’s degrees in nursing (Clinical Research Management, 2000) and health sciences (Clinical Leadership, 2004) at Duke University. I completed doctoral study and earned a PhD of Nursing Science and Research from the University of North Carolina Greensboro in May of 2016.
I received research training in my doctoral program. I did an independent study to analyze data collected from a previous focus group study on Black women’s experiences with breast cancer. For my dissertation research, I interviewed Black women who described themselves as thriving after breast cancer. I have attended several NIH sponsored training institutes; Programs to Increase Diversity among Individuals Engaged in Health- Related Research (PRIDE) Program. Cardiovascular Genetics and Epidemiology Summer Institutes (2017-2018) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and Summer Genetics Institute (Class of 2019), National Institute of Nursing Research. I have also been selected for several mentoring programs including SPLENDOR NC Scholar 2023- 2025 (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases), Nature and BCRF Rising Stars Scholar (2024- 2025), Yale School of Nursing CARES Program Scholar (2024- 2025).
My work sits at the intersection of health disparities, chronic disease prevention, and genomics, with a strong focus on African American breast cancer survivors and cardiovascular health. I have led and collaborated on numerous funded projects, secured over $8.3M in research funding, and built interdisciplinary partnerships across academia, healthcare, and community organizations. My technical expertise spans data science, community-based research, and nursing education, making significant contributions to advancing health equity and evidence-based nursing practice.
My research has significant implications for health equity, addressing critical gaps in cancer survivorship, cardiovascular disease prevention, and culturally competent healthcare. My research on African American breast cancer survivors contributes to improving long-term health outcomes, understanding barriers to care, and developing targeted interventions. Through my collaborative focus on environmental and social determinants of health, we aim to influence policy changes and community-based solutions that mitigate health disparities.
My contributions to nursing education and workforce development help prepare future healthcare professionals with a strong foundation in evidence-based practice, ethics, and interprofessional collaboration.
Keywords
- Health Disparities
- Breast Cancer Survivorship
- Cardiovascular Health
- Environmental Exposures (Lead, Chronic Stress)
- Genomics and Data Science in Health Research
- Culturally Tailored Interventions
- Social Determinants of Health
- Nursing Education and Evidence-Based Practice
Current and Past Research Projects
Current Research
- “Building a Path to Health Equity: Investigating Lead Exposure, Chronic Stress, and Cardiovascular Dysfunction”
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Funded | $225,000 (2024-2025)- Investigating the interplay between environmental lead exposure, chronic stress, and cardiovascular disease in minority populations.
- “Genomic Research and Data Science Center for Computational and Cloud Computing (GRADS-4C)”
National Institutes of Health (NIH) | $8,000,000 (2023-2028)- Developing data science and computational approaches to advance genomics research in underrepresented populations.
- “All of Us Researcher Academy Institutional Champion”
NIH & Research Triangle Institute | $109,538 (2022-2024)- Promoting diversity in biomedical research and fostering equitable participation in precision medicine initiatives.
Past Research
- “Assessing Cardiovascular Health of African American Breast Cancer Survivors”
Funded by UNCG and NC Translational & Clinical Sciences Institute (2018-2020)- Evaluated the feasibility of cardiovascular screening and lifestyle interventions for African American breast cancer survivors.
- “Stories of African American Women Who Are Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors”
NC Nurses Association Grant | $1,000 (2016)-
- Explored the experiences, barriers, and facilitators to survivorship in African American women.
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- “Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity in African American Breast Cancer Survivors”
UNCG School of Nursing Internal Grant (2017-2018) -
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- Investigated exercise participation and perceptions among long-term breast cancer survivors.
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Data-Based Research Publications
My research publications focus on health disparities, cardiovascular health, breast cancer survivorship, and culturally relevant healthcare interventions. Some key themes include:
- Cardiovascular Health & Risk Factors
- Combined effects of environmental metals and physiological stress on lipid dysregulation. (Submitted)
- Assessing cardiovascular risk in African American breast cancer survivors: A feasibility study. (In preparation)
- Breast Cancer Survivorship & Health Disparities
- Facilitators and barriers to physical activity among African American long-term breast cancer survivors. (Circulation, 2023)
- Stories of African American breast cancer survivors. (Journal of the National Black Nurses Association, 2019)
- Predictors of body image perceptions among African American women. (Western Journal of Nursing Research, 2019)
- Social & Environmental Determinants of Health
- Prevalence of food insecurity among cancer survivors in the United States: A scoping review. (Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2022)
- Culturally Inclusive Health Technology
- Improving recognition of multicultural cuisine databases to alleviate biases in nutritional apps. (Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2024)
- Recognition of culturally diverse cuisine in popular nutrition apps. (Current Developments in Nutrition, 2022)
Doctoral Dissertation
- Stories of African American women who are long-term breast cancer survivors. (2016, University of North Carolina Greensboro)
Editorial and Peer-Review Contributions
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- Manuscript reviewer for Ethnicity & Disease, Oncology Nursing Forum
- Grant reviewer for PRIDE and NIH-affiliated research programs
Community Outreach & Public Health Engagement
I actively collaborate with community organizations to address health disparities, provide patient education, and advocate for underrepresented groups.
- Greensboro Health Disparities Collaborative (2018–Present)
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- Member of the Publication and Dissemination Committee, working to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world health interventions.
- Conducted community-engaged research focusing on environmental and social determinants of health in underserved populations.
- Sister’s Network Greensboro (2018–Present)
- Advocate for breast cancer awareness among African American women, emphasizing survivorship support and culturally appropriate health education.
- Organized outreach initiatives to provide screening resources and address barriers to cancer care.
- Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (2007-2008)
- Served as an Advocate Grant Reviewer, evaluating research proposals aimed at improving breast cancer detection and treatment for diverse populations.
Mentorship & Professional Development Activities
My mentorship efforts focus on faculty development, student success, and research capacity building.
- NC A&T Faculty Senate (2022-2026)
- Chair of Nominating Committee & Executive Committee Member, fostering leadership and research engagement among faculty.
- Mentor for Early-Career Researchers and Graduate Students
- Mentored junior faculty and graduate students in nursing research, cardiovascular health, and community-engaged research methodologies.
- Provided guidance on securing NIH and foundation grants, leading to successful research funding applications.
- Chair of School of Nursing Curriculum & Admissions Committees (2021-2025)
- Spearheaded initiatives to enhance student retention, academic progression, and research engagement in nursing education.
ORCHID I:D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3796-9600
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=l0C1jm4AAAAJ&hl=en
American Heart Association (2017- present)
Oncology Nursing Society (2003- present)
American Heart Association (1993- present)
Southern Nursing Research Society (2014- present)