Alexis S. Hunter
Takoma Park,MD
Summary
Doctoral candidate in Public Health with extensive experience in community-based substance use treatment, recovery housing, and applied research. Dedicated to advancing equity-centered and community-engaged approaches in behavioral health. Proven expertise in delivering Motivational Interviewing-based interventions, facilitating recovery planning, and managing policy, ethics, and compliance processes. Proficient in mixed quantitative and qualitative methods to effectively translate community-informed evidence into actionable insights that support equitable public health initiatives focused on treatment access, recovery, and overdose prevention. Committed to fostering collaborative partnerships that enhance community well-being and drive systemic change in public health practices.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Part-time Adjunct Professor
Montgomery College, Psychology Department
Takoma Park , Maryland
01.2025 - Current
- Teach Psychology courses assigned courses in alignment with catalog descriptions, approved syllabi, and College policies to up to 30 Undergraduate Students
- Maintain availability for student academic support via office hours, email
- Conduct all scheduled class sessions for the full allotted time and location
- Uphold instructional standards consistent with departmental and College expectations
- Engage in ongoing professional development through workshops, conferences, and current literature
- Adapt instructional methods to address diverse student learning needs
- Maintain prompt communication by regularly checking and responding to college email and mailbox
Social Impact Intern/Associate Consultant
Purpose Possible, Washington, D.C.
Washington, DC
05.2022 - 08.2024
- Worked with non-profit clients to submit grant applications
- Managed the cultivation and stewardship activities needed to secure funding in partnership with the non-profit client fundraising committee
- Established systems, processes, and templates for cultivation, fundraising, and relationship stewardship of funders
- Created Letters of Intent, grant applications, and required reports, supporting grant compliance, reporting timelines, and funder documentation
- Provided all materials needed for final grant submission and ensured final submission
- Researched potential philanthropic funders and vetted for priority alignment and eligibility
- Arranged meetings with funder contacts and non-profit members to introduce their organization and work
- Managed relationship notes and information on a project management platform (Asana)
- Bi-weekly or monthly check-in calls (up to 30 minutes) with agenda and follow-up notes to
- Monthly activity reports that ensured accountability and transparency
Research Area Specialist Intermediate/Project Manager
University of Michigan- Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities (UM)
Ann Arbor, MI
10.2017 - 08.2021
- Managed the operational execution of a large, complex randomized controlled trial (RCT), including progress tracking toward research goals, recruitment and retention oversight, staffing coordination, and compliance activities
- Managed and trained 3 full-time Research Associates and 6-8 part-time Research Assistants. Day-to-day management of research associates, trained research associates to provide behavioral intervention, monitored and corrected research associate’s fidelity of the delivery of behavioral intervention. Trained Research Assistants in venue-based recruitment and community engagement
- Maintained project related communication with Institutional Review Board (implementation and execution of procedures, proper documentation, amendments, etc.) and clinicaltrials.gov
- Delivered a motivational interviewing based behavioral intervention to youth in a community organization setting. This involved traveling to Flint, Detroit, and Ypsilanti to meet with research participants and provided the intervention through one-hour counseling sessions
- Coordinated the running of the clinical lab: included ordering all lab supplies and maintaining inventory, developing, and implementing good clinical practice guidelines for the collection and transportation of specimens. Overseeing the return of sample results to both participants and the State
- Collaborated closely with the principal investigator to maintain secure research databases, develop data security procedures, and produce monthly project reports
- Hired and supervised employees. This included developing job postings, screening, and interviewing candidates, and managing employees - developing and implementing weekly work schedules, direct management, and oversight of work quality
Substance Use Specialist
Wellplace Michigan
Detroit, MI
02.2019 - 01.2021
- Conducting a triage on calls to determine if it is emergent, urgent, or routine
- If clinically appropriate, conducting transfers for any caller in crisis to a crisis counselor and resource at NSO-ETS
- Conducted a brief clinical screen utilizing the approved screening tools in MH-WIN to determine the likelihood of a substance use disorder and/or co-occurring mental health disorder as well as the preliminary identification of other needs
- Ensured that an initial diagnosis is made as part of the screening process
- Completed all screening tools including ASAM and AADIS and documented all processes with MH-WIN system
- Determined the coverage eligibility of the individual that qualifies that person for services and supports
- Authorized the consumer’s access into the substance use treatment system for a comprehensive assessment and any immediate services and supports needed as a part of the person-centered planning process
- Conducted face to face screening when necessary
- Observed and adhered to all HIPPA and Recipients Rights policies and procedures
- Provided consumer-oriented, professional, and compassionate services
Administrative Coordinator
Pure Recovery
Detroit, MI
03.2015 - 01.2019
- Maintained day-to-day operations of Non-Profit Recovery Housing facilities including supervisory and administrative tasks
- Completed authorizations for services provided to clients
- Retained effective communication between clients and staff
- Organized and maintained of databases through Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority system (Mh-Win)
- Developed Standard of Operations (SOP) for facilities
Research Associate/Study Coordinator
University of Michigan- Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities (UM)
Ann Arbor, MI
05.2016 - 10.2017
- Assisted in the coordination of day-to-day operations of large randomized clinical trial
- Supervision of study-related activities with collaborative community partners
- Served as a liaison among investigators, community partners, and project staff to coordinate recruitment, retention, and study procedures.Assisted with the organization and maintenance of project-related research databases
- Conducted research data collections through study surveys and biomarker collection
- Developed and maintained Standard of Operations (SOP) for project
- Maintained project related communication with Institutional Review Board (implementation and execution of procedures, proper documentation, amendments, etc.)
Research Assistant
Wayne State University- College of Nursing
Detroit, MI
10.2014 - 04.2016
- Analyzed qualitative data through conducting focus groups and individual interviews
- Facilitated focus groups and individual interviews
- Conducted thematic coding for data analysis using NVivo
- Organized and maintained project related databases
- Assisted with writing of abstracts, proposals, and articles with principal investigator
Research Assistant
Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
10.2014 - 10.2015
- Maintained day-to-day operation of all project-related matters including both supervisory and administrative tasks
- Supervised recruitment and retention of potential and recruited participants
- Lead recruiter, data collector, and researcher over study staff
- Liaison for IRB related procedures, protocols, and documentation
- Worked with Diabetes/HIV clinic staff at DMC to screen and recruit youth through multiple clinics at multiple sites
- Independently developed protocol and procedures for project-related matters
- Organized and maintained project-related data in research databases
- Conducted home-based data collections including interviews, questionnaires, and surveys
- Educated participants on Diabetes/HIV related issues
- Developed and maintained Standards of Procedures (SOP) for project
Research Assistant/HIV Test Counselor and Prevention Specialist
Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Horizons, Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
03.2014 - 03.2015
- Assisted with Research related activities including recruitment, data collections, and other administrative tasks
- Administered counseling related to HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention
- Participated in community outreach/education for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS
- MDCH HIV C&T certified (HIV/AIDS prevention education, Rapid testing)
- Maintained communication between clients and Clinical Care Team
Project Manager/Study Coordinator
Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
01.2012 - 10.2014
- Maintained day-to-day operation of all project-related matters including both supervisory and administrative tasks
- Supervised recruitment and retention of potential and recruited participants
- Lead recruiter, data collector, and researcher over study staff
- Liaison for IRB related procedures, protocols, and documentation
- Worked with clinic staff to screen and recruit youth through multiple clinics at multiple sites
- Independently developed protocol and procedures for project-related matters
- Organized and maintained project-related data in research databases
- Conducted clinic and/or home-based data collections including focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, and surveys
- Maintained technological components of project including computer software and cell-phone texting messaging
- Executed data analysis with project principal investigator
- Developed and maintained Standards of Procedures (SOP) for project
Education
PhD Candidate - Behavioral and Community Health
University of Maryland
College Park05.2027
MA - Community Psychology and Social Change
Pennsylvania State University
Middletown, PA05.2011
BA - Psychology
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI05.2006
Skills
Extensive Qualitative Coding (NVivo)
- SPSS, SAS statistical package training
Motivational Interviewing
Certified HIV Test Counselor/Prevention Specialist
- Certified in Phlebotomy and Venipuncture, University of Michigan
- Substance Use Brief Intervention Counselor, University of Michigan
Naloxone Delivery
- Packaging and Shipping Laboratory Specimens, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Student engagement
Classroom management
Student motivation
Timeline
Part-time Adjunct Professor
Montgomery College, Psychology Department
01.2025 - Current
Social Impact Intern/Associate Consultant
Purpose Possible, Washington, D.C.
05.2022 - 08.2024
Substance Use Specialist
Wellplace Michigan
02.2019 - 01.2021
Research Area Specialist Intermediate/Project Manager
University of Michigan- Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities (UM)
10.2017 - 08.2021
Research Associate/Study Coordinator
University of Michigan- Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities (UM)
05.2016 - 10.2017
Administrative Coordinator
Pure Recovery
03.2015 - 01.2019
Research Assistant
Wayne State University- College of Nursing
10.2014 - 04.2016
Research Assistant
Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University
10.2014 - 10.2015
Research Assistant/HIV Test Counselor and Prevention Specialist
Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Horizons, Wayne State University
03.2014 - 03.2015
Project Manager/Study Coordinator
Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University
01.2012 - 10.2014
PhD Candidate - Behavioral and Community Health
University of Maryland
MA - Community Psychology and Social Change
Pennsylvania State University
BA - Psychology
Michigan State University
RESEARCH AREA INTERESTS
Community based participatory research, Mixed methods, Community engagement, Health Equity, Health Disparities, Social Justice, Sexual and Gender minorities, HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention, Sexual Socialization, Community Psychology, Racial Socialization, Minoritized population Mental Health, Community Health Promotion
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
- Graduate Research
- Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland
- Research Assistant/Teaching Assistant August 2021 - present
- Community Thrives Lab, Dr. Elizabeth Aparicio
- Project: Rosie the Chatbot: Leveraging Automated and Personalized Health Information Communication to Reduce Disparities in Maternal and Child Health
- Assists with background information and literature review for project
- Recruitment of research subjects to focus groups
- Maintenance of social media marketing/recruitment with other graduate students
- Conducts qualitative analysis of focus groups
- Contributes to writing manuscripts
- Teaching Assistant Positions August 2021- present
- HLTH 377- Human Sexuality, Dr. Jenna Beckwith-Messman
- HLTH 140- Personal and Community Health, Dr. James Butler
- HLTH 285- Controlling Stress and Tension, Dr. Sue Reynolds
- HLTH 471- Women’s Health, Dr. Sue Reynolds
- SPHL 601- Core Concepts in Public Health
- SPHL 610- Program and Policy Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
- Evaluating student essays, discussions, tests, and other assessments
- Maintaining records on student progress/grades
- Leading student discussions and lectures on classroom materials
- Answer course related questions from students
- Instructor Position August 2024- December 2024
- Hlth 490- Professional Preparation in Community Health
- Develop and deliver a curriculum that addresses course goals and objectives
- Utilize innovative classroom techniques that engage students in the learning process
- Provide feedback to students to enhance academic growth
- Attend professional development courses to enhance pedagogy
- Evaluate student essays, discussions, exams and other assessments
- Supervise Teaching assistant for the course
- Community Psychology and Social Change Program, Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg, Independent Master’s Research focused on Black Women’s Sexuality
- Graduate Student August 2009 - May 2011
- Independent preparation and execution of Master’s project: “Young, Black Women’s Sexuality: Understanding Attitudes and Influences”, Chair, Dr. Holly Angelique
- Designed qualitative research project including focus groups and semi-structured interviews
- Recruited 10 research participants and conducted 4 focus group and 4 interview sessions with 18–21-year-old Black women
- Independently transcribed and thematically coded focus groups using NVivo qualitative software
- Undergraduate Research
- Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program/Summer Research Opportunity Program, Michigan State University
- Research Assistant January 2005 - January 2006
- Research Topic: Correlates of Depressive Symptoms in College Students of Color at a Predominantly White University, Mentor Dr. Zaj Harrell
- Recruited research subjects, collected data, and administered surveys to participants
- Managed, cleaned, and analyzed data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
- Participated in quantitative and qualitative research methods and writing course
- Reported research findings at the Summer Research Opportunity Program Conference, sponsored by the Committee on Institutional Cooperation in July 2005
- Prepared final research report, oral, and poster presentation of Scholarly work
- Social Identity Research Laboratory, Michigan State University
- Research Assistant September 2005 - May 2006
- Social Identity in Black and White men and women, Mentor Dr. Isis Settles
- Used qualitative coding software (NVivo) to code Focus Group discussions
- Assisted with literature review for manuscripts
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
- Lemos, D., Lopez-Vives D., Hunter, A., Barber, M., (Under Review). Mental Illness, Substance Use and HIV: Evidence-Based considerations for working with Youth living with HIV. In HIV in Adolescent and Young Adults. Springer.
- Briggs Drew L., Criss, S. Jasczynski, M., Hunter, A.S., Marin Gutierrez F.X., Mane, H., Doig, A., Yue, X., Seiler, J., Nguyen, Q.C., & Nguyen, T.T. (2025). "Public Sentiment Toward Abortion Before, During, and After Dobbs v. Jackson: A Qualitative Study Using X (formerly Twitter) Data". (In review)
- Parker J, Hunter A, Bauermeister J, Bonar E, Carrico A, Stephenson R. (2021) Comparing Social Media and In-Person Recruitment: Lessons Learned From Recruiting Substance-Using, Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents and Young Adults for a Randomized Control Trial. JMIR Public Health Surveillance 2021;7(12).
- Stephenson, R., Chavanduka, T.M.D., Rosso, M., Sullivan, S., Pitter, R., Hunter, A., & Rogers, E. (2020). Contrasting the perceived severity of COVID-19 and HIV infection in an online survey of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men during the US COVID-19 epidemic. American Journal of Men's Health.
- Stephenson, R., Chavanduka, T.M.D., Rosso, M., Sullivan, S., Pitter, R., Hunter, A., & Rogers, E. (2020). Sex in the time of COVID-19: Results of an online survey of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men’s experience of sex and HIV prevention during the US COVID-19 epidemic. AIDS & Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03024-8
- Stephenson R, Sullivan PS, Pitter RA, Hunter AS and Chavanduka TMD (2022) Are we still having sex? Results of round two of the Love and Sex in the Time of COVID survey with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. AIDS and Behavior.
- Stephenson, R., Chavanduka, T.M.D., Rosso, M., Sullivan, S., Pitter, R., Hunter, A., & Rogers, E. (2021). COVID-19 and the risk for increased intimate partner violence among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in the US. Journal of Interpersonal violence.
- Stephenson, R., Bonar, E., Carrico, A., Hunter, A., Connochie, D, Himmelstein, R., Bauermeister, J. Intervention to increase HIV testing among substance-using young men who have sex with men: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2018; 7(4):e114
- Plybon, L.E., Holmer, H., Hunter, A., Sheffield, C., Stephens, C. & Cavolo, L. The impact of body image and Afrocentric appearance on sexual refusal self-efficacy in early adolescent African American girls. Sex Education: Sexuality, Society and Learning, v9 n4 p437-448 Nov 2009
- Manuscript in preparation
- Hunter, A.S., Sah,S., Ezra, P., & Aparicio, E.M. (2025). Understanding the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of LGBTQ+ Foster Care Youth through a Trauma-Informed Lens. Manuscript in Preparation.
- Aparicio, E.M., Robinson, J.L., Sah, S., Jasczynski, M., Huq, M., Hunter, A., Marin Gutierrez, F.X., Fish, J.N., Salerno, J.P., Kachingwe, O.N., Dormitzer, C., Bernardi, C., & Boekeloo, B.O. (2025). A trauma-informed approach to exploring the mental health and sexual health needs of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care. Manuscript in preparation.
- Aparicio, E.M, Nguyen Q.C., Channell Doig, A. Marin Gutierrez, F.X, Sah, S., Mane, H., Yue, X., Mane, S. Hunter, A.S, Srikanth, N., Boyd-Graber, J., He, X., (2023). Development of Rosie the Chatbot: A Health Information Intervention for Pregnant and New Mothers of Color. Manuscript in preparation.
- Understanding the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of LGBTQ+ Foster Care Youth through a Trauma-Informed Lens
- Authors: Alexis Hunter, MA, Swati Sah, MPH, Elizabeth Aparicio, PhD, MSW, LCSW-C, and Pond Ezra, MA
- Oral presentation at the APHA 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo in Washington, DC, November 2-5, 2025
- Trauma-Informed Participatory Research Methods: An Experiential Workshop
- Organizer: Elizabeth Aparicio
- Speakers: Alexis Hunter, Claudette Grinnell Davis, Dana Prince
- Oral presentation at the SSWR Conference in Seattle, Washington, January 15-20, 2025
- Rosie the Chatbot: Designing a Health Information Intervention through the Lived Experiences of Pregnancy among New Mothers of Color
- Authors: Alexis Hunter, MA, Amara Channell Doig, MPH, Francia Ximena Marin Gutierrez, MSW, Swati Sah, MPH, Heran Mane, BS, Xiaohc Yue, MS, Sourabh Mane, BS, Neha Srikanth, BS, Jordan Boyd-Graber, Ph.D., Xin He, Ph.D., Quynh C. Nguyen, Ph.D., Elizabeth M. Aparicio, Ph.D., MSW
- Poster presentation at Research Interaction Day at the School of Public Health, University of Maryland, April 13, 2023
- Winner of Third Place Gold Award
- Web and Venue-based sampling for substance-using sexual and gender minorities
- Alexis S. Hunter, MA and Jayelin Parker, MPH
- Oral presentation/Breakout session at 4th Annual Michigan LGBTQ Health Summit in Detroit, MI, June 6-7, 2019
- Health Care Provider Report on Current Provisions and Understanding of Asthma Health Care Transition Service Needs for African American Youth
- Wanda Gibson-Scipio, PhD, APRN, BC, Alexis S. Hunter, MA, Karen K. MacDonell-Kolomodin, PhD, Claire Pearson, MD, Wayne State University
- Poster Presentation at the HCTRC Conference in Houston, TX, October 24, 2018
- Optimizing HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral Through an Adaptive Drug Use Intervention: Protocol for Project SWERVE
- Matthew Rosso, MPH, Alexis S. Hunter, MA, Jayelin Parker, MPH, Rob Stephenson, PhD, Jose Bauermeister, PhD
- Poster Presentation at the HFRCC Research Symposium in Flint, MI, March 9, 2018
- Providing Affirmative Care for Transgender Folks in a Social/Behavioral Research Setting, Best practice suggestions for health care staff
- Alexis S. Hunter, MA and Ahya Simone, BA
- Oral presentation at the LGBTQ Health and Wellness Week in Ann Arbor, MI, March 14, 2017
- Gender and Sexuality: Providing Affirmative Care
- Alexis S. Hunter, MA and Megan Touhey, MSW
- Oral presentation/training at HIV Health Literacy training in Detroit, MI, August 18-19, 2016
- An Exploration of the Transition Readiness Needs of Urban African American Youth with Asthma
- Poster/Oral Presentation at the Adolescent Health Initiative on Adolescent Health: Translating research into practice in Ypsilanti, MI, April 18-19, 2016
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
School of Public Health Student Representative for the University of Maryland Graduate Council (2024-2025; 2025-2026), School of Public Health Graduate Ambassador (2024-2025), Third place Gold Award for Health Innovation- Research Interaction Day, SPH UMD (2023), Graduate Program Committee (GPC)- PhD Student representative (2022-2023), Do Good Institute Social Impact Intern- Purpose Possible (Summer 2022), McNair Graduate Fellowship (2021-2025), Flagship Fellowship (2021-2025), Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholar Award (2021-2025), Member of Michigan HIV/AIDS Council (MHAC) (2020-2021), Co-Chair of Community Engagement Committee in MHAC (2020-2021), Member of the Southeast Michigan HIV/AIDS Council (SEMHAAC) (2020-2021), Member of Martin Luther King Day committee for UM- School of Nursing (2019-2021), Member of HIV/AIDS Testing Sub Committee for Creating Change conference (2019), Member of Planning Committee for LGBT-Detroit Hotter than July conference (2017-2019)