Susan Davies

Susan Davies is a Professor and Interim Dean at the Tulane School of Social Work, where she also serves as Associate Dean for Research. She previously held leadership and research roles at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, including directing the CDC-funded Prevention Research Center and holding scientific appointments in multiple interdisciplinary centers such as the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and the Minority Health Research Center.

Her research is centered on improving behavioral health outcomes among vulnerable populations, particularly focusing on HIV/STI prevention among adolescents, maternal mental health, and the social determinants of health. She employs ecological and ecosystemic frameworks to understand risk and protective factors within families and communities, with a strong emphasis on intervention development, program evaluation, and community organizing. Her work often integrates interdisciplinary collaboration across public health, medicine, nursing, and psychology.

The recent publications reflect a sustained focus on adolescent sexual health, maternal well-being, and community-level influences on risk behaviors. Her studies utilize diverse methodologies including longitudinal analysis, randomized trials, and qualitative assessments, often targeting underserved populations in the Deep South. Common themes include health equity, family functioning, neighborhood effects, and innovative intervention strategies such as entertainment education and social media outreach.

Susan Davies has secured significant research funding from federal agencies including the CDC and NIH. Notable grants include a five-year CDC Prevention Research Center award on community health renewal and an NIH/NICHD-funded prenatal behavioral intervention study to prevent cytomegalovirus in pregnancy. She has served as Principal Investigator on twelve studies and as co-PI or investigator on numerous others, demonstrating a robust and sustained research program.

She is deeply committed to mentoring, having guided five junior faculty recipients of K-awards across disciplines such as Medicine, Surgery, Public Health, Nursing, and Psychology. She has chaired 15 dissertation committees and served on over 40 others, advising students from various departments across her institutions. Her leadership extends to academic administration, where she plays a central role in shaping research strategy and educational programs at Tulane School of Social Work.