Professor | Gerontologist
Dr. Brown is an Assistant Professor and Gerontologist. Centered around the biopsychosocial processes of aging, Dr. Brown’s research uses publicly available data with the goal of understanding the unique difficulties Black Americans face in maintaining physical and psychological well-being as they age. Focusing on the complex interplay between stress and health, her approach aims to reframe the Black disadvantage narrative in health and aging, highlighting the heterogeneity in how Black older adults observe their stress burdens and adapt. Her work challenges the methods and frameworks used to study older Black adults by acknowledging the resourcefulness, coping, and agency Black people employ to reach older ages.
Dr. Brown’s research and teaching philosophy emphasizes the value of statistics and quantitative methods in combination with community-based, publicly available data to create measurable change in the lives of Black people. Dr. Brown teaches courses on Racism, Inequality and Aging Societies, Introduction to Health Data Analyses and courses that aim to destigmatize S.T.E.M. for diverse student populations and ensures the visibility of Black and Brown people via data and storytelling.