Tiara C. Willie

Tiara C. Willie, PhD, MA, is an Associate Professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Her primary affiliation is within the Department of Mental Health. Dr. Willie holds a PhD from Yale School of Public Health (2018), an MA from Southern Connecticut State University (2012), and a BS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2010).

Her research focuses on understanding the distribution and determinants of gender-based violence (e.g., intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, child sexual abuse) and its health consequences. Guided by the social ecological model, her work examines individual-, relationship-, community-, and societal-level factors to develop trauma-informed policies and interventions. Key themes include HIV prevention, mental health disparities, and implementation science.

Research Highlights:
- Explores the intersection of gender-based violence, substance use, and HIV syndemics among marginalized populations, particularly Black women and LGBTQ+ communities.
- Investigates barriers to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among women experiencing intimate partner violence, emphasizing trauma-informed approaches.
- Examines structural racism and policies influencing IPV perpetration and victimization, with an anti-racist lens.
- Conducts mixed-methods studies to understand how coercive control and stigma impact health outcomes during crises like the pandemic.
- Develops community-based interventions to address unmet behavioral health needs in HIV-affected regions.

Recent Publications (2021–2025): Over 70 peer-reviewed articles, including seminal work on coercive control during the pandemic, PrEP implementation in Mississippi, and intersectional frameworks for IPV prevention. Themes span HIV/AIDS, gender violence, mental health, and health equity.

Awards & Recognition:
- NIMHD Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar (2019)
- Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (2018)
- Surgeon General C. Everett Koop HIV/AIDS Research Award (2016)
- Dean’s Emerging Scholars Research Award at Yale University (2016)

Grants & Collaborations: Active funding from NIH, CDC, and private foundations. Collaborates with organizations like the Bloomberg American Health Initiative to translate research into policy and practice.