2024-2025
EMERGING SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Dr. Timothy D. Goler
Ph.D., MUPDD
Director of Research at the
Center for African American Public Policy and as an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Urban Affairs at Norfolk State University.
Dr. Timothy D. Goler is a distinguished scholar, educator, and leader with a dynamic background in sociology, urban planning, and public policy. He currently serves as the Director of Research at the Center for African American Public Policy and as an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Urban Affairs at Norfolk State University. Driven by a commitment to equity and community well-being, Dr. Goler's work bridges the gap between academic research and societal impact.
A central focus of Dr. Goler’s research is understanding the intersection of race, environment, identity, and mental health. His groundbreaking studies explore the enduring effects of systemic racism and discrimination, particularly the mental stress and coping mechanisms of marginalized communities. He is deeply engaged in examining health disparities and the socio-environmental factors that contribute to inequities in mental health and well-being. His work extends to addressing the challenges of misinformation in underserved communities and enhancing health literacy through community-led interventions.
Dr. Goler’s academic foundation is as impressive as his professional contributions. He earned his
Ph.D. in Sociology with specializations in Medical Sociology and Aging and the Life Course from Case Western Reserve University, where his dissertation examined racial differences in stress, coping, and psychological well-being among urban older adults. His additional academic credentials include a Master of Urban Planning, Design, and Development from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Norfolk State University.
Beyond academia, Dr. Goler is a social entrepreneur and visionary leader. As the Founder and CEO of the HBCU Preparatory Schools Network, he has created pathways for educational advancement rooted in the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is also the co-founder of Policy Bridge, a public policy think tank that fosters collaboration between academics and practitioners to address societal challenges.
In addition to his academic and entrepreneurial endeavors, Dr. Goler plays a significant role in
community development and advocacy. As a Senior Advisor for Equity and Community Affairs at Morino Ventures and the Urban League of Hampton Roads, he leads initiatives aimed at promoting equity, inclusion, and access to resources for underserved populations. He is a founding board member of African Diaspora United and the National Rites of Passage Institute, demonstrating his dedication to cultural preservation and empowerment.
Dr. Goler’s contributions have earned him recognition as a public scholar who seamlessly
integrates academic inquiry with practical application. His work has been featured in national conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and impactful community projects. A decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps, he brings a unique blend of discipline, service, and leadership to all his endeavors.
Dr. Goler continues to inspire by exemplifying the power of using education and research to drive societal progress. His unwavering commitment to equity, his innovative approach to addressing health disparities, and his dedication to uplifting communities position him as a transformative figure in the pursuit of social justice and academic excellence.
Erin-Leigh Gallop is a postdoctoral scholar at the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute and the University of Miami Department of Neurology. Her research focuses on the relationship between neighborhood contexts and mental health among older adults with a sleep apnea diagnosis. With a multidisciplinary background that includes degrees in Psychology (B.A., New York University), Nutrition and Food Science (M.S., Montclair State University), Community Health (M.S., Columbia University), and Health Education (Ed.D., Columbia University), Erin-Leigh is dedicated to understanding how dietary profiles influence cognitive health in older adults, aligning her work with the goals of improving health equity and advancing translational science."
Erin-Leigh Gallop
Postdoctoral scholar at the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute and the University of Miami Department of Neurology.
As a mental health interventionist, my work centers on the development, management, and evaluation of interventions to treat mental illness with specific attention to young Black males in the adolescent and young adult cohorts.
My secondary interest is the prevention and intervention of intra-community gun violence, a social problem that impacts young Black men more than any group in this country. Understanding and treating the conditions that lead to gun violence among young men – adverse childhood events, socio-economic immobility, community disorganization, harmful gender norms, policy disinvestment, and systemic racism – are all areas that I address in my work.
Cortney Vanhook
Mental health interventionist
Development, management, and evaluation of interventions.
I am a second-year PhD student in the Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program at UCLA. My research is motivated by my grandfather’s experience with Alzheimer’s Disease and focuses on employing multiomic approaches to identify ancestry-specific biomarkers and address brain health disparities in underrepresented populations. Previously, I conducted research at San Francisco State University in Dr. Misty Kuhn’s Biochemistry Lab, investigating enzyme acetylation and structural motifs, and in Dr. Plueni Pennings’ lab, applying machine learning to predict antibiotic resistance. Beyond my academic pursuits, I am deeply committed to community outreach, including addressing food insecurity, advocating for brain health equity, and serving as a UC Healthy Campus Initiative fellow. In this role, I am leading the development of a community garden at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior to promote agricultural sustainability and foster intergenerational connections.
Phelan Glenn
A second-year PhD student
in the Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program at UCLA.
Lilcelia “CeCe” A. Williams, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral scholar with dual appointments in the School of Medicine in the
Division of Geriatrics and the School of Rehabilitation Sciences in the Department of Occupational Therapy
Lilcelia “CeCe” A. Williams is a postdoctoral scholar with dual appointments in the School of
Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics and the School of Rehabilitation Sciences in the
Department of Occupational Therapy, supported by the Integrated Clinical Research and Geroscience T32 Program. Williams recently concluded her appointed as an Alzheimer’s
Disease Research Center Optimizing Scientific Careers in Alzheimer’s disease Research
(OSCAR) scholar in the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core and will begin a faculty
appointment as a Research Instructor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Williams' research is driven by her passion to improve patient health outcomes and to eradicate health disparities experienced by persons who self-identify as a member of a minoritized community (e.g., socioeconomically disadvantaged, racial or ethnic minority, residing in an underserved rural area, sexual or gender minority, person with a disability). Her research specifically focuses on the health disparities experienced by minoritized communities at the intersection of cognitive changes due to chronic illnesses associated with cardiovascular disease (e.g., stroke) and Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (e.g., vascular dementia, mixed dementia).
Williams is currently serving as the Principal Investigator of a pilot study examining the lived
experiences and outcomes of persons who experienced a stroke and received in-patient
rehabilitation, demonstrating her commitment to improving patient outcomes in neurodegeneration and aging. She is also the co-investigator of a multi-institutional study
examining the lived experiences and perspectives of persons at risk of developing Alzheimer’s
disease or related dementia.
Williams is a clinically trained and board certified interdisciplinary clinician, with more than 20 years of health care experience as a clinician, manager, and patient advocate. Williams has advanced training in educational leadership and management and has taught a dearth of courses in undergraduate and graduate programs, such applied science in technical leadership, business, science, and physician assistant studies. Williams earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University, her Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management degree from Western Governors University and her Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Management and Leadership degree from Robert Morris University.
Dr. Merci Ngozi Best is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan, specializing in tau-mediated neurodegeneration. As a Black Men’s Brain Health Emerging Scholar, she will investigate the roles of genetics, tau pathology, and educational inequality in Black men's vulnerability to Alzheimer's, dementia, and other brain disorders. Dedicated to community engagement, Dr. Best will also actively collaborate with local organizations. Dr. Best holds a Neuroscience degree and a Community Studies minor from the College of William & Mary. Inspired by early research opportunities, she founded STEAMTRIX, an education company addressing summer learning loss in K-12 students through hands-on STEM activities. Continuing her impact on STEM education, she transitioned STEAMTRIX to STEAMKITX, a product-based company that makes STEM educational experiences more accessible and sustainable. In 2023, Dr. Best earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Virginia with a dissertation titled "Breaking Barriers: A Quantitative Analysis of Axon Initial Segment Damage in Neurodegenerative Disease." Currently, her goal is to lead an independent research lab using human brain organoids, datasets, and post-mortem tissue to uncover the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, with a particular focus on Black Americans.
Dr. Merci Ngozi Best
A postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Marcus Johnson
A seasoned educator and researcher specializing in kinesiology, physical education, and health studies.
Dr. Marcus Johnson is a seasoned educator and researcher specializing in kinesiology, physical education, and health studies. Dr. Johnson earned a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Health, Kinesiology, Physical Education, and Sports Studies from Texas A&M Commerce in 2021. His dissertation explored the impact of integrating a literacy intervention in pre-kindergarten physical education classes, highlighting his commitment to interdisciplinary approaches in education.
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Dr. Johnson holds a Master of Education in Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in History and Education from Dallas Baptist University. With over a decade of experience teaching at various academic levels, Dr. Johnson has developed and managed course curricula, mentored students, and engaged in scholarly research aimed at promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in physical education.
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Currently, Dr. Johnson serves as an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Texas Southern University, where he is also a member of the Graduate Faculty and actively involved with the Center for Biomedical and Minority Health Research Collaborative. His research projects, such as the Thirdspace Movement Model and the Spectrum of Teaching Styles, focus on refining pedagogical applications to foster inclusion and social justice in physical education settings.
Dr. Johnson has contributed to the academic community through publications and numerous presentations, including co-authoring articles in esteemed journals like the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. Hs has also led workshops and delivered presentations at national conferences, sharing insights on integrating JEDI principles into physical education lessons.
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In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Johnson has extensive experience in administrative roles, having served as Director of Physical Education and School Athletics Director at St. Philips School and Community Center. He was instrumental in developing age-appropriate physical education curricula and promoting sportsmanship and teamwork among students.
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Through his dedication to education, research, and community engagement, Dr. Johnson continues to make significant contributions to the fields of kinesiology, physical education, and health studies, striving to enhance both academic knowledge and public health outcomes.
Katelyn Foltz (she/her/hers) is a sociologist whose work explores how institutions create and
maintain social inequalities, thereby promoting exploitation and violence towards marginalized
populations. Katelyn interrogates the intersections of race, class, and gender in two distinct but overlapping institutions: sports and intimate partner relationships. Currently, she is interviewing wives and partners who often become caregivers for retired NFL players who are experiencing health decline due to injuries, specifically head injuries, sustained during their playing career. In addition to researching violence as a tool to maintain structures of inequality, she also investigates resistance and activism within these institutions. Katelyn earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Global Studies: Securities and Justice from the University of Virginia in 2018. She earned her first Master’s Degree in Sociology and a Graduate Certificate in Women and Gender Studies from George Mason University in 2020. She earned her second Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2022. She is currently a
Doctoral Candidate in the Sociology Department at the University of Maryland, College Park with plans to graduate in Spring of 2025.
Katelyn Foltz
A sociologist,
focus in social inequalities.
Mark A. Bernard, Ph.D.
Instructor of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Dr. Mark A. Bernard is an Instructor of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where he is junior research faculty at NYU’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), and a member of the ADRC Biomarker Core. His current research focuses on increased understanding and development of biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), particularly those in blood plasma. He is investigating associations between neuropsychiatric symptoms (such as anxiety and
depression) and changes in these biomarkers, and is further interested in the nexus between
plasma AD biomarkers and sleep and circadian rhythm dysfunctions.
Dr. Bernard is a chemical biologist by training, with a PhD in Organic Chemistry, and a
postdoctoral fellowship and Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services
Research. This unique background, combining basic physical sciences and clinical research,
informs Dr. Bernard’s continued interest in not only the molecular mechanisms of disease
progression, but also in developing culturally-competent methods of translational research, aimed at reducing health disparities in his and other underserved communities.
Mark enjoys food, travel, cars, and photography. Many days, he can be found outside riding his
bike. Big fan of New York sports teams with names NOT ending in “-ets.”
Tracie Canada Ph.D. is the Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology and is affiliated with the Sports & Race Project at Duke University. She is also the founder and director of the Health, Ethnography, and Race through Sports, or HEARTS, Lab. As a Black feminist anthropologist and ethnographer, her work uses sport, specifically American football, to theorize race, kinship, care, and gender. Dr. Canada is the author of Tackling the Everyday: Race and Nation in Big-Time College Football (University of California Press, 2025). In this ethnographic work, she analyzes the performing athletic body to reveal how processes of anti-Blackness, injury, violence, and care impact the everyday lived experiences of Black college football players. In addition to her academic publications, her work has been featured in public venues and outlets like The Museum of Modern Art, The Guardian, and Scientific American.
Tracie Canada, Ph.D.
Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Duke University
Faculty Mentors
Donaldson F. Conserve - Associate Professor
Donaldson F. Conserve, MS, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health in the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University. His research focuses on implementing and disseminating evidence-based HIV prevention, care, and treatment interventions for scale-up and population impact. As part of his K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Institutes of Mental Health, he developed the Self-Testing Education and Promotion (STEP) Project and contributed to implementation science efforts to promote community-based HIV self-testing (HIVST) distribution in Tanzania. Building on his experience in Tanzania, he has expanded his research on HIVST to his native country of Haiti, and other Sub-Saharan African countries with collaborators from the HIV Self-Testing AfRica (STAR) Initiative, the world’s largest HIVST implementation science project to date. In the US, he is contributing to the upcoming HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 096 protocol, a community-randomized implementation science trial designed to test an integrated, HIV status-neutral, population-level health equity approach to reducing intersectional stigma and increasing rates of HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake, and HIV viral suppression among Black men who have sex with men (MSM). Currently, he is leveraging his HIVST research experience to inform the implementation of COVID-19 self-testing, which was recently authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug and Administration.
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Conserve received his MS and PhD in Biobehavioral Health from the Pennsylvania State University and completed his postdoctoral training in the Department of Health Behavior at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In recognition of the impact of his work, he received the Pennsylvania State University College of Health and Human Development 2020 Emerging Professional – Graduate Degree Award, given to graduates of the past 10 years who have demonstrated professional excellence and exemplary voluntary community involvement in the health and human development professions. Prior to joining George Washington University in October 2020, he was an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina.
Krim K. Lacey, Ph.D. - Associate Professor
Krim K. Lacey is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. His primary research is on intimate partner violence. Within the broader topic of intimate partner violence, Dr. Lacey’s research has focused on understudied and marginalized
populations and the intersection of race, ethnicity, culture, and environmental factors in shaping occurrences and experiences of interpersonal violence and related health outcomes. A focus of Dr. Lacey’s more recent work has involved the investigation of risk factors and consequences of violence toward African American and Caribbean Black women. Along with his work on intimate partner violence, Dr. Lacey has explored the physical and mental well-being of Caribbeans living in the United States, England,
Canada and within the Caribbean region to better understand the influence of social context, culture, and processes of migration on health outcomes
Thomas K.M. Cudjoe, M.D., M.P.H., M.A - Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Thomas K.M. Cudjoe, M.D., M.P.H., M.A. is the Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Endowed Professor, Associate Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Cudjoe is the co-director of Medicine for the Greater Good and the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology’s Director for Community Engagement. He leverages community-based strategies, mixed-methods and human centered design to understand and address social isolation. Dr. Cudjoe also serves on the Scientific Advisory Council for the Foundation for Social Connection and as the co lead to the Stakeholder Core for the Johns Hopkins Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratory for Aging Research. Additionally, he has led studies that examined the prevalence of social isolation among older adults and associations between social isolation and health outcomes. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and on Good Morning America. He is a Major in the US Army Reserve Corps. Dr. Cudjoe received his undergraduate degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Hampton University and was active in the Honors College and Army ROTC program. He graduated from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and earned a master’s in public health in health policy at Harvard School of Public Health. He completed his internal medicine residency Internal Medicine at Howard University Hospital and clinical and research fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In 2023, Dr. Cudjoe completed a master’s degree in social design at Maryland Institute College of Art.
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Lauren Parker - Associate Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Dr. Lauren J. Parker is an Associate Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research focuses on leveraging home- and community-based supports to address the cultural needs of African American and Hispanic caregivers and individuals living with dementia. Supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Dr. Parker investigates the impact of adult day services on both physiological and psychosocial stressors among African American caregivers, integrating biological and psychosocial indicators of stress. She is also the Principal Investigator of the clinical trial "Understanding Mechanisms of Action of the Tailored Activity Program for People with Dementia in Adult Day Services," funded through the EMBRACE Roybal Center (NIA 1P30AG086642-01).
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In addition to her research, Dr. Parker serves on the Leadership Core/Health Equity Task Force of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure, Public Health Center of Excellence in Dementia Caregiving at the University of Minnesota. She is a member of the Research Committee of the National Adult Day Service Association and a Co-Investigator of the Partnership and Engagement Core of The State Alzheimer's Research Support Center (StARS). Dr. Parker completed her postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She earned a dual-title PhD in Gerontology and Health Promotion from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Arts from Hampton University.
Joyce (Joy) Balls-Berry, Ph.D., M.P.E. - Associate Professor of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine.
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​Joyce (Joy) Balls-Berry, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine and inaugural Core Leader for the Health Disparities and Equity Core in the Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, the Associate Lead for Community Engagement for Precision Health for the Institute of Clinical and Translational Science, and the Academic Engagement Lead for the Greater Plains. Before joining the faculty of Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Balls-Berry was an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the Mayo Clinic. She completed her formal education at the Xavier University of Louisiana with graduate training at Washington University School of Medicine and The University of Toledo. Dr. Balls-Berry completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in health equity, epidemiology, and biostatistics at The University of Florida and a faculty fellowship in aging at Mayo Clinic. Her work as a scientist centers on increasing awareness of community-patient engagement in research to increase health equity in minoritized and under-resourced communities. As a scientist, Dr. Balls-Berry has published over 80 peer-reviewed publications. Her current funding as a PI includes NIH and CDC. Her current funded includes a National Institute of Aging R24 grant titled, Creating Opportunities to Increase Health Equity and Equality for Persons at Risk for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementia (COEQUAL). The goal is to establish a novel approach to recruiting, enrolling, and retaining under- resourced communities into an ADRD research registry. To date, 833 people have enrolled in the COEQUAL registry. Dr. Balls-Berry serves as the Secretary/Parliamentarian of the Association for Clinical and Translational Science Board of Directors and Chair of Person of the Board for Health Literacy Media. The Aside from her work as a scientist, Dr. Balls-Berry shared her story of living with dyslexia as a TEDx Talk. More recently, in January 2025, she was honored as one of The 40 for 40 MLK Servant Leader Awardees during the 40th Annual Bayer YMCA Commemorative King Breakfast.​