Doctor of Philosophy, Social Welfare (2024)
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Dissertation: Equipping Social Workers to Prevent Firearm-related Harm: Examining the Role of Discretion and Structural Racism
Committee: Megan Moore, PhD, MSW (Chair), Kalei Kanuha, PhD, MSW, Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, PhD, MD, MPH, Christopher St. Vil, PhD, MSW
Master of Public Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences (2017)
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Thesis: Homeless High Users of the Emergency Department: Understanding the Relationship Between Life Stress and Emergency Department Use
Committee: Clarence Spigner, DrPH, MPH (Chair), Megan Moore, PhD, MSW
Bachelor of Arts, Cellular Biology (2015; magna cum laude)
Minor: Psychology
Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Alabama
Grants to which I substantially contributed to the drafting of the proposal and the conceptualization and design of the research.
July 2025 – June 2027
Title: Firearm Safety Counseling for Suicide Prevention in Community Behavioral Health Agencies: Training, Implementation, and Evaluation
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Source: Philanthropic donation ($250,000)
April 2025 – December 2026
Title: Identifying Solutions to Firearm Injury, Violence, and Death in King County
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Source: King County ($250,000)
January 2025 – August 2025
Title: Empowering Social Workers to Promote Secure Firearm Storage: Developing a Culturally Resonant Training Program
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Source: UW Population Health Initiative ($29,400)
October 2024 – August 2026
Title: Strengthening Data Collection and Analysis for Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Orders to Surrender and Prohibit Weapons in Washington
Principal Investigator: Ali Rowhani-Rahbar
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Source: Department of Justice ($750,000)
March 2024 – March 2026
Title: Behavioral Health and Criminal Legal System Interactions of Extreme Risk Protection Order Respondents: A Statewide Mixed-Methods Study
Principal Investigator: Ali Rowhani-Rahbar
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Source: National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research ($349,892)
January 2024 – March 2024
Title: Equipping Social Workers to Prevent Firearm-related Harm: Examining the Role of Discretion and Structural Racism
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Source: University of Washington Presidential Dissertation Fellowship ($30,000)
July 2023 – March 2024
Title: A World Worth Living In: Exploring the Impact of Social Policies on Mental Health of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Individuals
Principal Investigators: Sarah F. Porter and Zeruiah Buchanan
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Source: UW Population Health Initiative ($27,000)
June 2022 – May 2023
Title: Equipping Social Workers to Prevent Disparities in Firearm-related Harm
Role: Mentored Lead Investigator
Funding Source: TL1, Institute of Translational Health Sciences
April 2020 – March 2021
Title: Exploring Influences on Firearm Safety Behaviors
Role: Mentored Lead Investigator
Funding Source: Rivara Endowment Injury Research Grant, Inaugural Recipient ($5,000)
Member, Fall Forum Planning Committee (2025). Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research
Co-lead, Methods Team (2023-2025). Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program
Member, Dissemination Team (2023-present). Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program
Co-chair, Students and Early Career Professionals Committee (2023-2025). Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research
Member, Science Committee (2023-present). Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research
Elected representative, Student Advisory Committee (2021-2022). University of Washington School of Social Work PhD Program
Student representative, Board of Directors (2021-2022). Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research
Admissions committee (2021). University of Washington School of Social Work Bachelor of Social Work Program
Workgroup, Increasing equity in Work-In-Progress Sessions Committee (2020-2021). Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center
Journal reviewer
American Journal of Community Psychology
Annals of Internal Medicine
Injury Epidemiology
Injury Prevention
INQUIRY
JAMA Network Open
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Journal for the Society of Social Work Research
PLOS One
Police Quarterly
Public Health
Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (Conference abstract reviewer)
Innovation Award (2024). National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-related Harm
Finalist for Best Student Science Award (2023). Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research
Best Student Science Award (2022). Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research
Brooks Webb Student Paper Award (2021). Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research
Recipient, Fall 2021 Outstanding Course Evaluations SOC W 505: Foundations of Social Welfare Research (Adjusted combined median of 4.7/5)
Marsha S. Glazer Endowed Fellowship (2020). University of Washington
Teague Scholarship (2011-2015). Huntingdon College
Beta Beta Beta Award (2015). Awarded to the most promising senior in Biology at Huntingdon College
Alpha Beta (2015). Awarded to the top 3% of the graduating class at Huntingdon College
Everett Bishop Award (2014). Awarded to the most promising junior in Biology at Huntingdon College
Chief Justice of the Judicial Board (2014-2015). Huntingdon College