I am an Associate Professor with tenure in Psychology and a secondary appointment in Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami (UM). I am also a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Founder and Director of the SHINE (Strengthening Health through INnovation and Engagement) Research Program. My primary research interests are (a) enhancing our understanding of the relationships between resilience, trauma, and health outcomes among individuals with HIV and those placed at risk for HIV, (b) investigating psychosocial and structural factors that relate to HIV health inequities, (c) developing effective prevention and intervention strategies to promote resilience and good health outcomes amongst survivors of trauma and individuals with or placed at risk for HIV, especially individuals minoritized due to racism (e.g., Blacks/African Americans), sexism, heterosexism, and cisgenderism, and who are heavily burdened by the HIV epidemic, and (d) engaging community members and stakeholders in research. I have been a PI of 14 grants in the area of HIV treatment and prevention (e.g., R01s, T32, R56, K23). In addition, I am the Director of the Mental Health Disparities and Community Engagement Core for a P30 grant (Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health [CHARM]) where I also established and provide guidance to our Community Advisory Board. I value community engagement and view strong community partners as the bedrock to conducting impactful HIV health disparities research. My efforts in engaging community members have been recognized by two awards (Rhoda Johnson-Tuckett Award for Commitment to Community-Engaged Research and a Community Hero Award) and several certificates/plaques of appreciation from community partners (e.g., Florida Department of Health). In addition to my noted research projects, I have given over 150 presentations of my work domestically and internationally, authored over 70 publications, received four early career researcher awards, and serve as an associate editor, consulting editor, and reviewer across several peer-reviewed journals.