معرفی
Dr. Abenaa Jones is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University, where she holds the Ann Atherton Hertzler Early Career Professorship. As director of the Addiction, Sex, and Infectious Diseases (ASID) Lab, her research focuses on the syndemic of substance use disorders, violence, sexual risk behaviors, and HIV/STIs, particularly among marginalized and criminal justice-involved women.
- B.S., 2012, Public and Community Health, University of Maryland
- Ph.D., 2016, Epidemiology, University of Florida
Her work examines racial disparities in opioid overdose training, naloxone administration, and treatment access, with a focus on gender-specific interventions for criminal justice-involved women. She evaluates structural and behavioral strategies to reduce substance use harms, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and trauma-informed care integration.
Dr. Jones’ research emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches to addiction, intersecting with social determinants like housing instability and incarceration stigma. She has secured significant funding, including an NIDA K01 Career Development Award and NIH T32 training grant, to develop interventions that address systemic barriers to recovery.
Scientific awards include:
- Ronald E. McNair Scholar’s Program (2009)
- McKnight Doctoral Fellowship (2012)
- NIDA Diversity Scholar (2019)
- Bloomberg American Health Initiative Travel Award (2019)
She mentors PhD students in Human Development and Family Studies and collaborates across institutions, including the Consortium to Combat Substance Abuse and the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. Her lab integrates expertise from epidemiology, demography, and clinical practice to address addiction and infectious disease intersections.
