Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Course(s):
• Clinical Research Coordination
• Race/Ethnic Relations
• Gender
• Qualitative Methods
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"UTA’s commitment to fostering research with real-world impact, combined with its strong support for community outreach, made it the ideal environment for continuing my efforts to collaborate with and uplift marginalized communities, helping to shape more inclusive social systems."
Tell us a little about your story, what brought you to UTA
I joined UTA as part of the Rise 100 initiative to contribute to the university’s mission of advancing community-engaged research. My work focuses on supporting communities in transition, including veterans transitioning to civilian life and immigrants navigating linguistic and cultural adaptation. UTA’s commitment to fostering research with real-world impact, combined with its strong support for community outreach, made it the ideal environment for continuing my efforts to collaborate with and uplift marginalized communities, helping to shape more inclusive social systems.
What are your academic and research interests?
My research agenda focuses on the behavioral health and social reintegration needs of vulnerable populations. Specifically, my scholarship has two broad theoretical and empirical tracks: 1) theorizing community-based research within the behavioral health field and 2) applying a community-based perspective to understand how identity shapes the transition experiences of community members. Most recently, my research has focused on veteran social reintegration after prison, specifically related to housing, family integration, and health.
Any desired interdisciplinary collaborations?
My interdisciplinary collaborations as part of the Community-Engaged Research Initiative involve working with peers in social work, sociology, criminal justice, and other fields to address the needs of vulnerable populations. By integrating perspectives across these disciplines, I aim to develop holistic approaches to social reintegration, particularly for veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and immigrant communities. These collaborations help ensure that our research not only advances knowledge but also directly benefits the communities we serve through practical solutions and informed policy development.
Any news releases or publications that you are featured in that you’d like to share?
I’m happy to share I will be working as co-investigator and lead qualitative researcher on a newly awarded 5-year, $2.49 million VA North Texas Health Care System grant. The project, titled "Supporting Employment and Resources for Veterans’ Economic Security (SERVES)," focuses on improving employment and economic outcomes for veterans, including those facing homelessness, disability, and mental health challenges. As part of the VA Consortia of Research (CORE), the project focuses on bringing together a group of 20 researchers from across the United States to 1) develop broad knowledge on veterans’ employment security and 2) support operational partners’ ability to improve services and knowledge, all while expanding research and developing new researchers. Our primary operational partners are the Homeless Program Office and the VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service. This grant positions our team to make a lasting and meaningful impact on veterans’ lives. We just received the news on Sept 4 of the VA’s intent to award and the project will run October 2024-Sept 2029.
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