Dr. Angela Jacques Tiura is an Associate Professor of research in the Wayne State University School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences.

Main Discipline(s):

Main Professional Societies:

Affiliation(s):

  • Social and health psychology
  • Public health
  • Society for Behavioral Medicine
  • The Research Society on Alcoholism
  • Wayne State University School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
What are your undergraduate and graduate degrees in and from where?
All of my degrees are from Wayne State. I completed my BA in Mathematics in 2002, then my MA (2008) and PhD (2010) in Social Health Psychology.
Give a brief summary (250 words or less) of your current area of research.
My primary research area is at the broad intersection of intimate partner violence and addictive behaviors. A bit more specifically, I study 1) the etiology of (overwhelmingly) men’s sexual violence against women, using both survey and experimental approaches, and 2) the interplay across time of young women’s experiences with dating and sexual violence, alcohol use, using food as an addictive substance, and mental health-related outcomes. Most of my work focuses on college students and emerging adults, because this is a time period in which all of these areas – alcohol use, intimate partner violence, eating changes – and related factors like emotion dysregulation and different situational factors, are very common and can have life-long impacts.
How did you arrive at your current area of research?

After completing my BA, I worked on a project that evaluated a substance use treatment center for people with cooccurring communicable diseases. That project brought issues of substance use, other mental health issues, and victimization to life for me, and inspired me to focus on how those topics are intertwined.

What do you see as a current emerging area of research that you would like to participate in and why?

Addressing health disparities and inequitable social determinants of health because people who are affected by them (such as many Detroiters) face inordinate amounts of challenges in so many facets of their lives.

Tell us your (one) favorite STEM research paper or book.   Why it is your favorite?

Textbook-wise: Using Multivariate Statistics by Barbara G Tabatchnick and Linda S Fidell, because these women combined providing the essential basic information for conducting multivariate statistical analyses with endearing research examples. Lay reading-wise: Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly because she brought Christine Darden’s, Mary Jackson’s, Katherine Johnson’s, and Dorothy Vaughan’s stories forward.

Do you have a favorite scientist, engineer or other role model? Who is it and why?

I don’t have one favorite but I have been immensely fortunate to have been surrounded by supportive and encouraging science and math teachers and professionals from elementary school (e.g., now Dr. Sandra Yarema, COE Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Science Teacher Education [but as I knew her in 5th-8th grades, Ms Straughen]), high school (e.g., Ms. Rebecca Hickling, who introduced me to dodecahedrons and Wayne State), and undergrad (e.g., Dr. Steve Kahn).

What do you do for fun outside of your role as a woman in STEM?

Hang with my 10- and 6-year-old kiddos, play sports with my partner, walk and bike in my neighborhood.

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