Kristina Hood

Kristina Hood, Ph.D., serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), holding a tenure-track position with research centered on health disparities among people of color and underserved populations. Her work bridges basic and applied research to translate laboratory findings on persuasion and behavior change into real-world HIV prevention interventions.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012

Dr. Hood's research examines psychosocial determinants of health behavior, with specific focus on condom use attitudes, sexual health promotion, and reproductive health disparities. Her scholarship demonstrates consistent emphasis on intersectional approaches addressing how race, gender, and socioeconomic status compound health inequities. Methodologically, she employs mixed-methods designs including longitudinal studies, intervention development, and community-based participatory research to investigate mental health literacy, ethnic-racial identity, and healthcare access barriers.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals dominant trends in Black emerging adult mental health, gendered racial microaggressions affecting sexual health behaviors, and structural barriers to preventive care. Her work increasingly incorporates technology-based interventions and examines pandemic-related health consequences through lenses of discrimination and mistrust.

Scientific Awards:

• Developing Diverse Investigators Workshop, NIMH (2014)
• Special Populations Research Development Seminar Series Workshop, NIDA (2013)
• Fellow, HIV Intervention Science Training Program, Columbia University (2012-2014)

Dr. Hood mentors doctoral students including Ashlynn Bell (recently advanced to candidacy) and award-winning researcher Alexandra Wynn. She directs the PROGRESS Lab, which confronts oppression through research addressing reproductive health disparities and developing interventions for substance use stigma reduction. Current projects include technology-based HIV prevention tools and studies examining how discrimination shapes healthcare utilization among marginalized communities.

The PROGRESS Lab operates as an intersectional research space focused on building equitable communities through culturally grounded interventions. Recent initiatives include developing interactive modules to reduce substance use disorder stigma among medical students and investigating how gendered racial microaggressions impact condom negotiation among Black women.