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About
Dr. Nicole Patricia Yuan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. She holds courtesy appointments in the Department of Psychology and the Applied Intercultural Arts Research Program. With a multidisciplinary background spanning clinical psychology and public health, Dr. Yuan’s work is distinguished by its commitment to advancing research and community engagement in areas of health disparities, trauma, substance abuse, and violence prevention—particularly among underserved populations including American Indian/Alaska Native communities.
Dr. Yuan earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Bowling Green State University and her Master of Public Health in Health Services from the University of Washington. Her early career was shaped by formative roles as a behavioral health clinician and research associate, eventually leading to a significant faculty role at the University of Arizona where she has served since 2006.
Throughout her career, Dr. Yuan has conducted and published influential research on adverse childhood experiences, alcohol misuse, tobacco cessation, resilience, and intimate partner violence. She has served as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on numerous federally and state-funded grants, including a K23 Mentored Career Development Award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and she contributed to the development of culturally-tailored public health interventions across diverse settings.
An active contributor to community-based participatory research, Dr. Yuan has maintained long-standing partnerships with urban and rural American Indian and Alaska Native organizations. Her work is characterized by a strong emphasis on ethical engagement, community advisory board development, and culturally responsive health interventions. She has provided technical assistance and consultation to tribal and urban Indian health organizations and played leadership roles in national projects on substance use prevention and violence research.
Dr. Yuan has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and contributed book chapters and health education materials. Her research has informed programming for smoking cessation, trauma recovery, and public health policy, particularly in contexts where cultural and systemic factors intersect with health outcomes.
As an educator and mentor, Dr. Yuan has taught extensively in MPH and DrPH programs, focusing on sociocultural and behavioral aspects of public health. She has supervised a broad range of student research at undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, fostering the next generation of public health practitioners and researchers.
Dr. Yuan’s professional service includes editorial roles with journals such as Psychology of Violence and American Journal of Health Behavior, and she is an active reviewer for numerous journals and scientific meetings. Her dedication has earned her accolades including the Excellence in Teaching Award and the Consulting Editor of the Year from the APA journal Psychology of Violence.
Skills & Expertise
public health
clinical psychology
qualitative research
quantitative research
mixed methods research
trauma-informed care
program evaluation
health education
research ethics
grant writing
mentoring
behavioral health
psychological assessment
stress and coping
intervention development
academic leadership
community engagement
teaching
mental health research
culturally responsive methods
resilience measurement
academic writing
data analysis
epidemiologic methods
public speaking
Research Interests
violence prevention
trauma recovery
substance abuse
alcohol misuse
tobacco cessation
health disparities
community-based participatory research
Native American health
social determinants of health
women's health
sexual violence
intimate partner violence
child maltreatment
adverse childhood experiences
psychological resilience
health promotion
marginalized populations
behavioral interventions
public health policy
interpersonal violence
resilience narratives
health literacy
minority mental health
ethics in research
community health partnerships
Connect With Me
Experience
Associate Professor
- July 2015-Present Associate Professor (Tenured), Division of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ July 2015-Present Associate Professor (Courtesy Appointment, Non-Tenure Eligible), Dept. of Psychology, College of Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ June 2010-June 2015 Assistant Professor (Courtesy Appointment, Non-Tenure Eligible), Dept. of Psychology, College of Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Jan 2007-June 2015 Assistant Professor (Tenure-Eligible), Division of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Jan 2006-Jan 2007 Assistant Professor (Non-Tenure Eligible), Division of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZN. Yuan, 11/06/18 2 Jan 2004-Sept 2005 Research Associate, Dept. of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Feb 2003-Jan 2006 Director of Substance Abuse Research, Division of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Oct 2002-Jan 2004 Behavioral Health Clinician, CODAC Behavioral Health Services, Inc., Tucson, AZ (fulfilled postdoctoral requirements for psychology license) April 2002-Feb 2003 Research Specialist, Division of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Education
University of Washington (UW)
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (LSU Health New Orleans)
Bowling Green State University (BGSU)
Bowling Green State University (BGSU)
Oberlin College and Conservatory (OC)
Thesis Guided (1)
Adverse childhood experiences and alcohol disorders among sexual minority American Indians and Alaska Natives
Institution: University of Washington (UW)
Publications (1)
Female survivors of sexual trauma are vulnerable to a wide range of psychological consequences. Because some psychological symptoms may be long lasting and severe, treating them at the earliest point...
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