2003 – present: FHI 360, Durham, NC
2022 – present: Director of Knowledge Management, HIV Department
2019 – 2022: Gender-Based Violence Technical Advisor, Research Utilization
Leads research utilization efforts, including packaging and promoting research results and evidence-based interventions and resources to funders, program implementers and policymakers and planning for adaptation and scale up. Provides thought leadership on gender-based violence, meaningful engagement of adolescent girls and young women, implementation science, research utilization and implementation of new HIV prevention technologies. Contributes to gender-related business development by identifying new funding opportunities and partners and leading proposal development. Supervises project teams and FHI 360 staff.
2017 – 2019: Senior Technical Officer, Research Utilization
Provided technical leadership in gender integration, qualitative research methods, and research utilization. Provided guidance to FHI 360 staff and partners on the importance of addressing gender norms and inequalities in health and development work. Supported projects to integrate gender to meet funder requirements and improve project outcomes. Trained partners on qualitative research methods; provided technical oversight of implementation science studies; and built capacity in qualitative coding, analysis, and paper writing. Worked with researchers and global and local stakeholders to promote research utilization by identifying key messages and appropriate communication channels for sharing research findings and planning for intervention scale up.
2007 – 2017: Research Associate, Social and Behavioral Health Sciences
Developed and implemented socio-behavioral HIV prevention and reproductive health studies including writing proposals; developing mixed methods research protocols and data collection instruments; obtaining ethics committee approval and ensuring ethical conduct of studies; training and providing technical assistance to research staff in Africa; conducting qualitative coding and analysis; and disseminating results through publications and presentations. Oversaw project management including developing budgets up to $750,000 and ensuring effective use of funds; overseeing project teams; reporting to funders; and liaising with other key stakeholders.
2006: YouthNet/Tanzania Project Intern, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Worked with youth leaders to adapt and field test a curriculum addressing HIV prevention and promoting gender equitable norms among men 15-24 years old. Provided technical assistance to local HIV organizations focusing on program management and peer education. Co-facilitated behavior change communication training for local partners.
2004 – 2006: Dissemination Coordinator
Helped create and implement research dissemination and utilization activities; developed monitoring and evaluation indicators for research utilization; edited publications.
2003 – 2004: Research to Practice Intern
Synthesized reproductive health research findings in print and web-based publications to facilitate uptake of results in policy and programs.
Additional Experience
2014 – 2017: Co-director, Qualitative Methods Course, The Dartmouth Institute, Lebanon, NH
Co-directed graduate-level course for Master of Public Health students and mid-career medical professionals. Developed course syllabus and materials, delivered class lectures, and evaluated student performance.
2013 – 2017: Volunteer Advocate, WISE, Lebanon, NH
Provided crisis counseling for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Helped plan community mobilization events. Completed 30-hour advocate training.
2010 – 2011: Volunteer, Women’s Institute for Secondary Education and Research, Durham, NC, and Muhuru Bay, Kenya
Conducted focus groups with students for program monitoring and evaluation. Hosted Kenyan teachers for professional development training in US.
2007 – 2009: Volunteer Crisis Counselor, Orange County Rape Crisis Center, Chapel Hill, NC
Answered 24-hour crisis line, counseled sexual assault survivors and accompanied to hospital and court. Completed 63-hour advocate training.
2006 – 2007: Foreign Language and Area Studies Scholar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Received a scholarship to study Kiswahili and African studies.
2006: Teaching Assistant, Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Supported course design, instruction, and grading for master’s-level course in Department of Health Behavior and Health Education.