Dr. Kristen Emory

Dr. Kristen Emory

Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Office Location: SBS C316

Phone              : 310-243-2698

Email                : kemory@csudh.edu

                        (Preferred method of contact)

Education

Postdoc – University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center

PhD – University of California San Diego and San Diego State University Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Health Behavior)

MA – San Diego State University, Department of Sociology

BS – San Diego State University, Department of Sociology

Courses Taught

HEA 465, Intro to Global Health

HEA 467, Health Policy

HEA 490, Senior Grant Writing Seminar (Community Health)

HEA 496, Internship

HEA 497, Internship Seminar

Bio

Dr. Emory is a Health Behaviorist (PhD) and Sociologist (MA) with a passion for community engagement, health equity, and social justice. Her research interests surround the role intersecting identities play in contributing to and reducing health disparities globally; particularly as they contribute to mental health concerns and unhealthy substance use or abuse. Dr. Emory’s current research focuses on the impact of stressors (such as COVID-19 and discrimination) on substance use as a trauma response among diverse populations. In particular, this work focuses on the role of intersectionality, across Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus (LGBTQ+) communities. She is dedicated to reducing health equity concerns regarding cannabis/marijuana, alcohol, and commercial tobacco consumption which are often reported as being used as coping mechanisms in times of stress and uncertainty. She has worked in the realms of tobacco control and prevention, health equity, global health, LGBTQ+, and intersectional health over the past 15 years. The goal of all of her work is translational: Ultimately to work with diverse communities to achieve their own health and wellbeing goals. 

Research Overview

She is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Tobacco Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) Smoke and Vape Free Scholar Initiative (SVFSI) funded Scholar’s Tobacco Advocacy and Research (STAR) mentorship program, in partnership with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She loves mentoring and advising diverse and first-generation students through their academic careers. She has published in the areas of mental health, substance use, Indigenous Populations Health, LGBTQ+ health, cigarettes, e-cigs, hookah and other tobacco-related disparities.

Dr. Emory leads a student-engaged Community Cannabis research project (IRB-FY2023-27: Towards a Better Understanding of the Complex Relationships between Equity, Mental Health and Cannabis Consumption in California). The purpose of this project is to better understand the complex relationship between marijuana/cannabis consumption and mental health among diverse populations in Southern California, particularly within Los Angeles County. In addition to this, the project explores health and social justice equity concerns surrounding the consumption of marijuana/cannabis which vary across diverse populations; including Use vs. Misuse, the over-policing of black and brown bodies for cannabis-related offenses, stigma, cannabis consumption as a coping mechanism, and medical cannabis consumption.

If you are interested in taking or sharing the anonymous Community Cannabis survey you can access it HERE or type in the direct link: https://csudh.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eM4W5Ou5NfNnZxc

Commitment to Community

In addition to her current teaching and research, Dr. Emory is a Faculty Advisory Board Member for U-GROW, a partnership between Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center in Los Angeles and seven Southern California campuses of the California State University system focused on providing mentorship and research opportunities for diverse and first-generation undergraduate students in order to support their dreams and confidence to apply to graduate programs in Public Health, medicine and related fields.

If you are a faculty, student or community member interested in partnering on community- engaged research or another project please feel free to reach out anytime: kemory@csudh.edu

Together we can make the world a better place!