My research interests center on preventing morbidity and mortality from drug overdoses, child maltreatment, and other violent means. I am particularly interested in how these issues intersect and how the criminal justice system can both promote and hinder positive outcomes for individuals and families. My lab values collaboration with community partners and is dedicated to promoting equity and social justice through the work we do with marginalized and often stigmatized populations. As a mixed methods researcher, I strive to center the voices of the communities we study and put a story behind the quantitative data that frames our mission. I earned my BA in English Literature and Theatre Arts from East Carolina University and MPH and PhD in Public Health from The Ohio State University. I have worked in the field of injury prevention for more than 20 years, first as a health educator and policy expert and later as a researcher. I am proud to lead a lab that provides a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals from groups that are underrepresented in research (eg, first-generation students, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, immigrants to the US, individuals with disabilities).