People

Research Educator

Dr. Shane McCarty is the Research Educator for the Community & Global Public Health research stream. As a research scientist, he blends psychology and community health to examine conceptions of social issues, prosocial motivation, and strategies for health promotion and prevention. His work as a practitioner is rooted in Participatory Action Research, guiding student-led and community-driven initiatives for mental health and violence prevention. He has developed and delivered team-based programs that increase resilience among youth after a school shooting, enhance school climate for school administrators and educators, improve school disciplinary practices for school-based law enforcement, and build interprofessional competencies among healthcare professionals. In his role as a Research Educator, he empowers students to take a population health perspective, examining the sociostructural determinants of health. As a mentor, Dr. McCarty has inspired and guided high school and undergraduate students who are passionate about becoming the next generation of public health scientists and leaders.

Stream Collaborators

Student research teams collaborate with faculty members at Binghamton and Buffalo.

Jennifer J. McGrath, PhD MPH

Professor, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University

Dr. McGrath, a clinical psychologist, takes a pathways-to-policy approach to untangle the psychosocial determinants of child health inequalities, leading to insights into the pathophysiology of chronic disease precursors and their socioeconomic gradients in childhood and adolescence. She is an expert in psychophysiology research methods, psychometrics, and other advanced quantitative methods. She is supporting team #2 to examine lifestyle mental health using MUSE S and fitbits.

Barrett Brenton, PhD

Faculty Engagement Associate, Center for Civic Engagement

Professor, Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University

Dr. Brenton, a nutritional anthropologist, is an expert on food security and justice, supporting student teams examining food and nutrition.

Miesha Marzell, PhD

Associate Professor, Public Health Division, Binghamton University

Dr. Marzell is a substance use researcher with a background in social work and prevention science. Her research focuses on harm reduction and the mental health of racially minoritized people.

Heather Orom, PhD

Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo

Dr. Orom conducts research on risk perception and communicating risk information. Specifically, she examines how health information avoidance undermines health behaviors, such as screening for colorectal cancer. She is supporting the health promotion and disease prevention team.