Background
Monica Adams is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work. Guided by 25 years of direct social work practice with disenfranchised populations, Dr. Adams’ research addresses health disparities from a strengths perspective. As a researcher, she strives to empower practitioners from various disciplines to develop strength based interventions to reduce and eliminate health disparities. Dr. Adams’ dissertation focused on identifying socio environmental protective factors against overweight and obesity among women with low incomes. She is also interested in advancing an understanding of the role of public policies as both an inhibitor and promoter of health disparities, and interested in developing strength based health messages tailored to the specific needs of marginalized populations (e.g., motherhood status, racial/ethnic minorities, and low income populations).
Education
- PhD, University of Louisville
- MSW, Virginia Commonwealth University
- BSW, West Virginia University
Research Interests
- Health disparities
- Overweight and obesity among low income populations
- Policies and ethics impacting the obesogenic environment
