Center Staff


Our disciplinary backgrounds include applied behavioral science, community psychology, anthropology, education, law, child development, urban planning, and public health. Team members have experience addressing a variety of issues facing communities including health promotion, social determinants of health, substance abuse, education, child and youth development, rural health, child well-being, systems change, and neighborhood development in urban communities.

Our multi-generational team includes Ph.D-level researchers, professional staff, graduate students, and undergraduate interns. We learn through relationships with collaborative partners locally, nationally, and globally.


Pearl Avari
Pearl Avari Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor
Lauratu Bah
Lauratu Bah M.A.
Graduate Research Assistant
Photo of Natalia Cepeda.
Natalia Cepeda
Student Hourly
Photo of Qinyan Dickerson
Qinyan Dickerson Ph.D.
Research Project Manager
Photo of Steve Fawcett
Stephen B. Fawcett Ph.D.
Senior Advisor, Co-Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, Kansas Health Foundation Emeritus Distinguished Professor of the Department of Applied Behavioral Science
Professional headshot of Reilly Fitzpatrick
Reilly Fitzpatrick MPH, LMSW
Director of Training and Technical Assistance
Professional Headshot of Margaret Grove
Margaret Grove
Administrative Associate Sr.
Photo of Jeanne Hayes.
Jeanne Hayes Ph.D.
Associate Researcher Senior
Christina Holt professional portrait
Christina M. Holt M.A.
Interim Director, Co-Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre
Photo of Steven James
Steven James
Violence Prevention Community Health Worker
Headshot of Adrian McConnell
Adrian McConnell
Research Project Manager
Photo of June Mo.
June Mo M.S.F.
Grant Coordinator
Peter Richard
Peter Henry Owen Richard M.I.
Research Informatics Analyst
Photo of Jerry A. Schultz
Jerry A. Schultz Ph.D.
Senior Researcher, Center for Community Health and Development
Photo of Aaliyah Timmons
Aaliyah Timmons
Research Aide
Head shot of Krystal Towne
Krystal Towne
Research Aide
Photo of Rayanna Tucker
Rayanna Tucker
Graduate Research Assistant
Photo of Jireh Udechukwu
Jireh Udechukwu
Graduate Research Assistant
Jomella Watson-Thompson
Jomella Watson-Thompson Ph.D.
Professor, Applied Behavioral Science, Associate Vice Provost, Office of Community Impact, Principal Investigator and Director of the Youth Violence Prevention Center- Kansas City