Why did you choose graduate school at IU Indianapolis?
I originally chose to do my Ph.D. at IU Indianapolis so that I could work with my research mentor, Dr. NiCole Keith. She is an expert in the area of physical activity promotion for racial minority communities, health disparities, and community-based research. I knew that I wanted to focus my area of study on these areas, and she was the best person in the country to do this with. Additionally, this university has a strong emphasis on community engagement, and actively pursues a campus culture of working with local communities to advance the public good for all. I really value this and have made working with the community a big part of my own work.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
Of all the things I have done so far at IU Indianapolis, I would say completing the INSPECT policy fellowship would be the most rewarding thing I have done. I am very enthusiastic about engaging in advancing policy and communicating science to non-academics. This fellowship was a fantastic opportunity for me to get firsthand experience implementing policy and understanding all the nuances of this process. I came away with so many lessons that now inform my work as a community-based researcher and has motivated me to continue being involved in the policy space.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
I love that this city has a thriving sports culture. While I am not a native to Indy and do not root on Indiana sports teams (I am a native of Southern California…. Go Dodgers!), I have gone to numerous Pacers, Colts, and Indy Eleven games. The people here have such a strong connection to their sports teams, and it shows in the atmosphere at these games. And how can I forget the motorsports culture in Indy? May is really something special around here and is something you must experience to understand.
I have also really enjoyed living in Downtown Indy. Downtown has a lot of things to do in terms of events to attend; is very walkable; has a lot of nice outdoor spaces; and is generally pretty safe to live in.
Surprisingly enough, Indy has a great food scene. There are so many good restaurants around the city that offer a wide range of options. You can find everything from Mexican street tacos; to Sushi; to Ethiopian cuisine; and much more. I actually have a running list of all the places people have recommended to me over the time that I have been here that my wife and I are trying to get through (it spans about 80 different restaurants).
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
My primary research focus revolves around the adoption and promotion of physical activity (PA) among racial minority populations. I utilize theory-driven, community-based participatory frameworks to guide my work—partnering heavily with local community stakeholders to inform and develop my projects. The ultimate goal of my work is to establish sustainable community-led Physician Assistant (PA) programs that help individuals and communities sustain PA. A big aspect of this work is to address the various PA disparities faced by these populations that prevent them from participating in PA in the first place. I have secondary interests in the assessment and implementation of policies that facilitate PA among communities. I am interested in understanding how organizational and legislative policies impact our social structures (i.e., built environments, economic resources, etc.)—and by extension how these variables influence PA participation.
Internships:
- Indiana Science Policy: Education & Career Training (INSPECT) Fellowship (Jun – Aug. 2023)
- Media Feature: Student Helping Shape State Policy Through Inaugural Fellowship (2023). IUPUI Today.
Professional Development:
- Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholar Program (2021 – Present)
- American College of Sports Medicine Leadership and Diversity Training Program (2021 – Present)
- CIRTL at IUPUI Training Program (2022 – Present)
- Associate Level Certification Completed Mar. 2024
- IUPUI Preparing Future Faculty and Professionals Program (Completed Sept. 2023)
Professional Service:
- Student Affairs Committee, American College of Sports Medicine
- Role: Representative, Mid-West ACSM
- Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG), Indiana University, Indianapolis
- Role: Representative, IU School of Health & Human Sciences
Professional and Community Group Memberships:
- Member, Central Indiana Top 10 Coalition
- Member, Central Indiana Top 10 Coalition Steering Committee
- Member, American College of Sports Medicine Science Communication Collective
- Member, CDC Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (PAPREN)
- Member, PAPREN Equity and Inclusion Work Group