“Everyday is a new opportunity to seek, knowing if I don’t try there’s no opportunity to succeed.”

Welcome!

Meet Dr. Minerva [Min-Er-Va]

Collaborator. Activator. Researcher. Educator

Dr. Minerva Francis (she/her/ella) is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) leading programmatic initiatives to support the well-being of individuals and populations.  She is a passionate public health researcher, advocate, and educator specializing in substance use-related behavioral change techniques and project management.  With specialized training in addiction research, policy analysis, and evaluation, she previously held roles overseeing a federally-funded science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education program while also providing trainings for healthcare workforce development initiatives.  She also oversaw a Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)-funded screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) training grant for three years before completing a National Institutes of Drug Abuse (NIDA) T32 Behavioral Science Training in Drug Use Research as a predoctoral fellow at New York University (NYU).   After defending her dissertation on cannabis-related coping, life satisfaction, and equity after police contact, she served as an adjunct teaching undergraduate and graduate courses for the City University of New York (CUNY).                            
Described as a magnetic trainer-of-trainers, she applies evidence-based practices and teaching methods to facilitate active learning and engagement.  She also has proficiency in using learning management systems (LMS) and enjoys curriculum development. As an Addiction Research and Evaluation postdoctoral fellow at a national non-profit that partners with corporations, organizations, communities to raise awareness about addiction and advocates for accessible, quality healthcare and effective treatments, she onboarded and led a team to help accomplish the closeout evaluation of a five-year, SAMHSA-funded program in collaboration with New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that aimed to serve as a national model of Promoting Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care (PIPBHC) among individuals affected by opioid use disorders (OUD), who were at risk for or already had chronic health or behavioral health disorders and received services at opioid treatment programs (OTP).                                                             
Dr. Minerva's academic journey culminated in a Doctorate of Education (EdD) in Health Education and Behavioral Science from Columbia University - Teachers College.  Her educational background also includes a Master of Public Health (MPH; CUNY) degree, a Master of Arts (MA; CUNY/Columbia University) degree in health education with a focus on political science and public administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BS; SUNY Cortland). Dr. Minerva has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to her field and community.  Since 2020, she has been an affiliated investigator with the Center for Drug Use HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) center at NYU. As a principal investigator, her research has focused on using machine learning to develop digital interventions that enhance support for families affected by addiction and contact with the criminal justice/legal system. In her research, Dr. Minerva uses mixed qualitative and quantitative methods to identify the social determinants of health, which help inform the interpretation of health outcomes. From 2022-2024, she participated in the National Institutes of Health Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network Learning Experiences to Advance Practice (NIH JCOIN LEAP) as an investigator, a testament to her dedication to advancing research and practice.  In July 2024, Dr. Minerva received a Distinguished Alumni Award from her undergraduate alma mater.
Interestingly, she has appeared on NPR, PBS Crosscut, and local radio.  In her downtime, Dr. Minerva adores training with her running group, engaging in community health promotion projects, and learning to play djembe drums for wellness. She also serves as a board member for Sophia's Garden, an institute encouraging philosophical inquiry and language enrichment for children. Her "why" is because, as the lyrics of Whitney Houston state, "children are our future," and we as adults must continue to promote optimal health and learning opportunities for them and ourselves.