Kristi Lynn Stringer

Dr. Kristi Lynn Stringer serves as an Assistant Professor of Community and Public Health within the Department of Health and Human Performance at Middle Tennessee State University's College of Behavioral and Health Sciences. A native of Murfreesboro, she maintains deep community ties while conducting groundbreaking research on health-related stigma with national recognition.

Her educational background includes a PhD (2017) and MA (2012) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a BS (2009) from Middle Tennessee State University. Her doctoral training established the foundation for her current research trajectory focusing on marginalized populations.

Dr. Stringer's research program centers on intersectional stigma affecting people living with HIV, substance use disorders, and criminal justice involvement. She examines how gender, race, sexuality, and poverty compound health disparities through mixed-methods approaches. Her work demonstrates how layered stigmas create barriers to healthcare access, treatment adherence, and social support systems, particularly in the Deep South context.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on stigma measurement, harm reduction implementation, and structural barriers to care. Her most recent work employs advanced statistical methods like latent class analysis to model complex stigma pathways. The publications span high-impact journals across public health, addiction science, and HIV research domains.

Beyond academia, Dr. Stringer actively contributes to community health through harm reduction organizations serving Nashville's homeless population, providing both supplies and education. This practical engagement directly informs her research on street-level health interventions and policy implementation.

Her professional activities include significant contributions to the AIDS and Behavior journal, participation in the HEALing Communities Study, and leadership in the FRESH (Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV) initiative. She maintains active collaborations with researchers at UAB, Meharry Medical College, and Columbia University.