Our Team
Meet the heart of COHR — our research team. This incredible group has dedicated themselves to understanding community needs and turning research data into actionable insights. Their efforts have shaped our mission, bringing understanding and compassion to every project along the way.
Current Team
Research Assistant Professor Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon Dr. Cioffi is a dedicated substance use researcher, steering efforts to improve health and mental health outcomes among stigmatized populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness and people who inject drugs. Grounded in a harm reduction perspective, her work emphasizes a community-first approach, ensuring that research priorities are aligned with the needs and directions of community partners.
Principal Investigator Associate Research Professor and Family Interventionist Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon A licensed psychologist with over 15 years of experience, Dr. Mauricio specializes in working closely with families and children in community setups both in the US and internationally. She has played a pivotal role in training hundreds of clinicians in family-centered, evidence-based interventions, carving a path for culturally competent practices worldwide.
College of Education, Couples and Family Therapy Karina assisted with data collection, supported advisory groups, and helped assess implementation of our motivational interviewing intervention. Karina specializes in therapy work, with a passion for supporting parents. As a researcher, she dedicates herself to suicide prevention, particularly among parents with substance use disorders.
Kasie coordinated projects for the Administrative Core, overseeing the CPAB and Data Collective. Since moving to Oregon in 2013, she has led research grants at institutions like CODA Inc. and Oregon Research Institute, specializing in substance use and eating disorder prevention.
Community Research Coordinator Miss Ian currently resides in Eugene, Oregon. She previously worked in mental health counseling and harm reduction services in San Francisco, California from 2013 to 2023. She loves working with this community and is focused on understanding the research aspects of addressing stigma, policies, and practices that hinder positive change.
School of Journalism and Communication, Communication and Media Studies Nii designed the communication materials for our team including our website, water bottles, social media communications, and print designs. As a researcher, they focus on crafting culturally relevant health messages for substance misuse and overdose.
Past Contributors
Abbie lead on-site data collection events and works conjointly with our community partners and members. She aims to support corrections-involved families through the implementation and evaluation of education and community-based programs.
Alexa is working as a medical assistant as she prepares to take the MCAT and apply to medical schools this cycle.
Angie engaged in data collection and qualitative data analysis. In her clinical practice and research, she values being guided by and highlighting the voices and experiences of participants.
Anna is currently working in accounting at Pacific Office Automation while preparing to pursue her masters degree in international business.
In 2020, Ashley assumed the role of Community Research Coordinator at the Prevention Science Institute. She collaborates with a broad spectrum of community partners, focused on research activities aimed at addressing the challenges faced by parents and individuals dealing with substance use disorders, including those who inject drugs (PWID). Ashley strives to increase community engagement as she builds connections.
Audrey evaluated the potential influence of established trust within community centers and syringe service programs on the heightened COVID-19 vaccination rates observed among houseless individuals and patrons of these services when facilitated at these venues. Her research focuses on parenting and child welfare in the U.S. and globally.
Irin worked on school-based interventions focusing on substance-use prevention. She studies the relationship between COVID-19 positivity and the use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and vaping among people who inject drugs. Her goal is to find harm reduction strategies that prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses through safer practices around drinking and smoking.
Lillian worked alongside team members with on-site data collection and supports community members in advisory groups. She strives to begin therapy work for vulnerable populations such as women and adolescents with substance use disorders.
Llewellyn is a data science specialist at the prevention science institute. He’s the lead data manager for this project and various other projects at the department. He creates data wrangling systems and mobile applications for projects along with reporting and analyses.
Matteo now works as a Career Advisor and Rapid Response Coordinator for a nonprofit in Southeast Portland, they assist job seekers with scholarships, utility assistance, layoff transitions, and career coaching.
Rebecca helped with on-site data collection, sat in on advisory board meetings, and assisted with other areas of the project. She is currently a senior at the University of Oregon, working towards degrees in neuroscience and psychology. In the future, Rebecca hopes to work in the field of clinical psychology with adolescents.
Sabreen contributed to the region 3 COVID-19 vaccination and testing report through data analysis and visualization, as well as synthesizing qualitative data. She is dedicated to improving health accessibility for linguistically diverse and marginalized communities. Her research aims to bring evidence-based practices into real-world settings.
Susie is currently working for Food for Lane County, interviewing for positions in poverty alleviation programming.
Zoe assisted with on-site data collection and actively supports community members within advisory groups. Her passion lies in the field of public health, with a particular focus on harm reduction initiatives in her community.