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News & Noteworthy: Making an IMPACT

2024 Stephen Alexanian joins the IMPACT Lab as a research coordinator

Stephen is a research coordinator in the IMPACT lab. He manages various activities for multiple lab projects. After graduating from George Fox University in 2019, he completed his M.S. degree at University of Oregon focusing on research with mental health and immersive media. After he graduated, he worked as a clinical research coordinator for TBICoE investigating military personnel and TBI therapy. His primary research interests include mental health promotion, immersive media, and age-related diseases.

2023 News & Noteworthy

2023 IMPACT Lab featured in WSU Insider

Dr. Elizabeth Weybright's work funded by the Center for Disease Control was recently featured in the WSU Insider. This project investigates handgun use and attitudes in rural adolescents. You can read the full article linked here.

2023 IMPACT Lab Presents at the Society for Research on Adolescence

Katherine Hampilos (former Research Coordinator), Elizabeth Purser (graduate student) and Cassandra Watters (current Research Coordinator) presented at the 2023 Society for Research on Adolescence in San Diego, California. Dr. Elizabeth Weybright served as conference program co-chair. Katherine Hampilos presented a poster titled Addressing Adolescent Cannabis Use in a Legalized Context: Pilot Evaluation of an Adapted Substance Use Prevention Program for Youth and Families. This presentation was part of the Adaptation of Strengthening Families Program 10-14 (SFP 10-14) for Legalized Marijuana Context project and was funded by USDA. Elizabeth Purser presented a poster titled Another Brick in the Wall: How are school risk and protective factors associated with adolescent hope? This research was part of the Prevention Science graduate degree program. Her advisor is Dr. Elizabeth Weybright. Cassandra Watters presented “I Never Realized How Hard Recovery Is.” Evaluation of a Youth Participatory Action Research Project for Opioid Misuse Prevention. This research is part of the Center for Rural Opioid Treatment and Recovery (CROP+TR) project and was funded by SAMHSA.

2023 Kathryn Bruzios receives the CAHNRS Graduate Student Leadership Award!

2023 Giselle Jimenez and Reece Schulke present at SURCA, Giselle receive the Grey Award!

Two of our undergraduate students presented at the 2023 Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. Giselle Jimenez presented A Thematic Analyses of Latinx Parents’ Experiences of Sending their Students off to College and she received the Grey Award for Social Science Research. Giselle works with Dr. Jenn Duckworth on the FYAH Spanish Adaptation Project. Reece Schulke presented Differences in Youth Substance Use, Perception/Attitudes, and Protective Factors: Results from the WA State Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative. Reece works with Drs. Brittany Cooper and Gitanjali Shrestha on the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative.

2023 Kat, Giselle, and Brittany are awarded at the PSGSO Poster Session

Dr. Brittany Cooper received the Faculty Excellence in Prevention Science: This award recognizes one faculty member annually for exceptional scholarly activity and contributions to the field and/or graduate program in Prevention Science. Kathryn Bruzios received the Outstanding Graduate Scholar in Prevention Science: This award recognizes a student for excellence and growth in research, skill acquisition, translation, and mentorship. Giselle Jimenez received the Exceptional Undergraduate Student in Prevention Science: This award recognizes students for exceptional scholarly growth and acquisition of research skills. Congratulations everyone!

2023 Konul Karimova presents at the Graduate Student Showcase

Konul Karimova presented Demonstrating the Use of a Realist Evaluation Framework to Design Complexity-Responsive Evaluation of a Large-Scale, Positive Youth Development Initiative. Konul works with Dr. Gitanjali Shrestha on the Economic Mobility and Responsible Parenting project.

2023 Impact Lab students Present at the PSGSO Poster Session!

Two graduate students and four undergraduate student members of the IMPACT Lab presented a variety of projects at the 2023 Prevention Science Graduate Student Organization Poster Session. Kathryn Bruzios presented Enhancing Pre-Professional Training for Prevention: A Curriculum Infusion Project. Kathryn is in her final year of her PhD program, and her supervisor is Dr. Brittany Cooper, and this poster was part of their work for the Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center. Jordan Newburg presented Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Overview and Discussion of Next Steps. Jordan is a 4th year in the PhD program, and her supervisor is Dr. Brittany Cooper. Gavin Mina and Rittick Nandy co-presented Handgun Carrying Behaviors Among rural Adolescents: Implications for Prevention. This work was led by Dr. Elizabeth Weybright’s CDC funded study on Rural Adolescent Attitudes Toward Handguns and Carrying. Gavin and Rittick both graduate in May, 2023. Giselle Jimenez presented A Thematic Analyses of Latinx Parents’ Experiences of Sending their Students off to College. Giselle works with Dr. Jenn Duckworth on the FYAH Spanish Adaptation Project. Reece Schulke presented Differences in Youth Substance Use, Perception/Attitudes, and Protective Factors: Results from the WA State Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative. Reece works with Drs. Brittany Cooper and Gitanjali Shrestha on the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative.

2022 News & Noteworthy

2022 Gitanjali Shrestha received the Early Career Prevention Professional Award

Gitanjali Shrestha was awarded the Early Career Prevention Professional Award at the 2022 Washington State Prevention Summit’s Awards of Excellence ceremony. Congratulations Gitanjali!

2022 IMPACT Lab's Suicide Prevention Work Featured in WSU Insider

Dr. Elizabeth Weybright's work on farm stress and rural/agricultural suicide prevention was featured in a WSU Insider article. The article specifically highlights Dr. Weybright's comments on the necessity of suicide prevention focused in rural and agricultural communities. You can read the article by clicking on this post.

2022 Kathryn Bruzios chairs a symposium at SIRC

Kathryn Bruzios chaired a symposium, Building a Bridge Between the Practice and Science of Implementation Support: Three Examples from Prevention Science. the symposium highlighted the Prevention Support System (Wandersman et al., 2008) which helps build general and intervention specific capacity in organizations that are delivering evidence based-programs. These studies helped improve understanding of the supports needed to scale evidence-based programs in real-world settings.

2022 IMPACT Lab attends SIRC

IMPACT Lab members Dr. Brittany Cooper, Dr. Elizabeth Weybright, Jordan Newburg and Kathryn Bruzios attended the 2022 Society for Implementation Research Collaboration Conference.

2022 Cassandra joins the IMPACT Lab

Cassandra Watters joined the IMPACT Lab in July 2022 as a new research coordinator. After graduation from the University of Arizona in 2020, she worked as a Lab Coordinator in the Child Cognition Lab at UArizona. Cassandra then completed a fellowship at Ochanomizu University in Tokyo, Japan, investigating mental healthcare provider training in Japan. As a research coordinator she is interested in translational science, and adolescent developmental psychopathology.

2022 Brittany is awarded the SPR Friend of ECPN Award

Brittany was selected by the Society for Prevention Research Early Career Preventionist Network (ECPN) Steering Committee to receive the 2022 Friend of ECPN Award. This award is given in recognition of Brittany's support of early career activities, by helping ECPN as an organization; promoting training, and early career involvement in prevention efforts; and encouraging early career Preventionists in their work. Brittany will be presented the award at the Annual Awards Presentation at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research.

2022 Brittany is named President-Elect for the Society for Prevention Research

Brittany was named President-Elect for the Society of Prevention Research. Brittany will serve a one year term (2022-2023) as president-elect, a two-year term as president (2023-2024) and one final term as past-president (2024-2025). We're proud of you, Brittany!

2022 Jenn Duckworth featured in the CAHNRS News

The WSU College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) recently featured the work of IMPACT faculty Jenn Duckworth. Funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Jenn along with colleagues at the University of Washington conducted online confidential surveys with students at four- and tow-year college students to assess alcohol and marijuana use. The study found four-year college students drink more, use marijuana less than community college peers. To read the whole story in CAHNRS news, click here.

2022 IMPACT joins the University of Washington on FORE Grant

The University of Washington was one of nine awardees for the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts Grant. IMPACT lab members are contracting with UW to provide training and technical assistance through the center for the Strengthening Families Program Ages 10-14. IMPACT will also be providing expertise in dissemination and implementation science for the projects final evaluation design. Click here to read the FORE Foundation press release.

2022 Kate Presents at WSU Showcase

Kate presented on work from CROPTR exploring training needs of Opioid Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Providers in rural Washington. Results indicated that stigma prevented people from seeking opioid treatment and recovery resources in rural communities. Additionally, results showed that a majority of rural providers were interested in training topics on for opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery. Showcase is a weeklong celebration and recognition of WSU Faculty, Staff, and Students for the scholarly work that they have been completing.

2022 Jordan Presents Two Posters at WSU Showcase

Jordan presented two posters at WSU Showcase. The first presented findings from the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative Evaluation project. The second presented Jordans findings from her masters thesis work exploring graduate student attitudes towards evidence-based programs. Showcase is a weeklong celebration and recognition of WSU Faculty, Staff, and Students for the scholarly work that they have been completing. Click here to see the poster from the CPWI evaluation.

2022 CROP+TR team is awarded Organizational Impact Award for Excellence in Research and Programming for Youth

The Society for Research on Adolescence Organizational Impact Award recognizes efforts that serve young people in diverse backgrounds through significant scientific, political, or programmatic contributions. The CROP+TR team was recognized for their work with Youth Participatory Action research projects aiming to help Washington State communities understand and address the opioid crisis. Click to read more!

2022 Elizabeth Weybright is awarded the Faculty Excellence in Extension Award

IMPACT's Dr. Weybright was awarded the 2022 College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) Faculty Excellence in Extension Award. From the CAHNRS website, the Faculty Excellence in Extension Award was established to recognize faculty with Extension appointments in CAHNRS for program innovation, scope, the impact of their programs, and leadership. These areas could include the development of new or innovative programs, expanded linkages with non-college organizations, or innovative program delivery. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

2021 News & Noteworthy

2021 CROP+TR Youth Participatory Action Research in Clallam is featured in the Sequim Gazette

The Center for Rural Opioid Prevention Treatment and Recovery (CROP+TR), a SAMHSA funded grant project co-led by Dr. Elizabeth Weybright (WSU Human Development, IMPACT Lab) and Dr. Michael McDonnel (WSU College of Medicine, BHI Lab) is working to develop and disseminate technical assistance and training related to opioid misuse in Washington. This project will aim leverage our statewide Extension-based drug use prevention infrastructure, our expertise in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) for opioid treatment and recovery and our relationship with other SAMHSA TTA efforts to provide rural Washington communities with high quality TTA they need to combat the opioid epidemic. WSU Extension Clallam is an active part of the CROP+TR team working on developing opioid-specific curriculum adaptations along with treatment and recovery resources to the evidence-based intervention Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR). Click here to read the Sequim Gazette news article and about the work completed by Melanie Greer and Vicki Wegner.

2021 NW PTTC convenes in Seattle

After almost two years of remote work, the Northwest Prevention Technology and Transfer Center (NW PTTC) team was able to meet for a masked in-person meeting in Seattle. The NW PTTC is a collaborative effort led by the University of Washington, Washington State University and the University of Nevada at Reno. The NW PTTC aims to serve as the primary training and technical assistance (TTA) resource to Region 10 (Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska) prevention practitioners. Click here to learn more about the NW PTTC!

2021 CROP+TR Participatory Action Research with Teens featured in the WSU Insider

The Center for Rural Opioid Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery (CROP+TR) is a joint project between the College of Medicine and Department of Human Development that aims to provide training and technical assistance to rural Washington communities on opioids. The Participatory Action Research with Teens (Take-PART) engages teens (14-18) by teaching them about the science of addiction, withdrawal, and prevention. Teens also learn data collection and research techniques. Click here to read the WSU Insider's news piece.

2021 CROP+TR Youth Participatory Action Research in Spokane featured on KHQ News

The Center for Rural Opioid Prevention Treatment and Recovery (CROP+TR), a SAMHSA funded grant project co-led by Dr. Elizabeth Weybright (WSU Human Development, IMPACT Lab) and Dr. Michael McDonnel (WSU College of Medicine, BHI Lab) is working to develop and disseminate technical assistance and training related to opioid misuse in Washington. This project will aim leverage our statewide Extension-based drug use prevention infrastructure, our expertise in providing training and technical assistance (TTA) for opioid treatment and recovery and our relationship with other SAMHSA TTA efforts to provide rural Washington communities with high quality TTA they need to combat the opioid epidemic. WSU Extension Spokane is an active part of the CROP+TR team working on developing opioid-specific curriculum adaptations along with treatment and recovery resources to the evidence-based intervention Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR). Click here to watch the news clip and skip to time point 3:00 to see Jennifer Fees, WSU Extension Spokane staff and CROP+TR project team.

2021 WSU team Nerd Immunity wins the Sloboda & Bukoski Cup

WSU IMPACT lab graduate students Kat Bruzios, Erica Doering, and Jordan Newburg competed on team Nerd Immunity at the Society for Prevention Research Sloboda & Bukoski Cup in 2021. Each team receives the competition data set 2 months before the conference, at which point they conduct a literature review, generate hypotheses, and conduct analyses. Teams then present their results during the SPR annual meeting. A panel of senior prevention scientist judges and the audience at the symposium will rate the quality of the research work and of the presentation. Team Nerd Immunity was mentored by Dr. Jenn Duckworth and their presentation was titled Bioecological Building Blocks for Neighborhoods: Considering Safety and Race in Child Development. We're proud of you all!

2021 Undergraduate RA Elvia Garcia graduates cum laude with her bachelor's degree

IMPACT Undergraduate Research Assistant (RA), Elvia Garcia, graduated cum laude from Washington State University with her bachelor’s degree in psychology in May 2021. During her time with the lab, Elvia has assisted faculty, graduate students, and staff with a plethora of tasks for the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative, the Children Youth and Families at Risk, and the DBHR Prevention Fellowship projects. We appreciate your hard work and are proud of you! Congratulations, Elvia!

2021 Undergraduate RA Melanie Simpson graduates summa cum laude with her bachelor's degree

IMPACT Undergraduate Research Assistant (RA), Melanie Simpson, graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with her bachelors degree in May 2021. During her time with the lab, Melanie has assisted faculty and graduate students with a plethora of tasks for the EBP Registry Project. Melanie has been a critical part of a team conducting a literature review to summarize existing research on the effectiveness of substance use prevention environmental strategies. We appreciate your hard work and are proud of you! Congratulations, Melanie!

2021 Graduate student Elizabeth Purser presents her work at WSU Showcase

IMPACT's Elizabeth Purser presented her work exploring the relationship between flourishing and young adult alcohol use at the WSU Showcase. Showcase is a weeklong celebration and recognition of WSU Faculty, Staff, and Students for the scholarly work that they have been completing. Click here to see her poster. Elizabeth, Erica, and Dr. Weybright found that flourishing is associated with greater annual alcohol use in young adults. Elizabeth was awarded third place for her presentation by the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) Research Exposition!

2021 Graduate student Erica Doering presents her work at WSU Showcase

IMPACT's Erica Doering presented her work on College Student's Conceptualization of Boredom at the annual WSU Showcase. Showcase is a weeklong celebration and recognition of WSU Faculty, Staff, and Students for the scholarly work that they have been completing. The group found seven themes for Boredom Conceptualization. Click here to see her poster. Erica also received a scholarship award for her presentation and work! We are proud of you, Erica!

2021 Prevention Research Subcommittee Meeting

The Prevention Research Subcommittee (PRSC) met virtually for the March quarterly meeting! The PRSC is comprised of individuals representing the Washington Health Care Authority Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR), Washington State University, the University of Washington, the Washington State Department of Health, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and leadership/staff from other Washington State agencies or research organizations. Led by co-chairs Dr. Brittany Cooper (WSU) and Dr. Kevin Haggerty (UW), the group meets quarterly to provide a forum for prevention researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to identify and address emerging and evolving substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion service and research needs in Washington State. The theme for March's meeting was COVID-19.

2021 Elizabeth Presents to the Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee

IMPACT's Dr. Elizabeth Weybright presented to the Washington State Legislature House Commerce and Gaming Committee in March. She was joined by colleagues from the Washington Health Care Authority Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery as well as colleagues from the University of Washington. All presentations were given to help examine the effectiveness of programs to prevent youth access to and use of alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and vapor products. Elizabeth's presentation was titled, Effective Approaches for Youth Substance Use Prevention and starts around timepoint 1:35:40. Click here to watch the recording!

2021 Transformational Change Initiative featured in the WSU Insider

The WSU Insider recently highlighted work by the Transformational Change Initiative (TCI) project and IMPACT Lab's Laura Hill. TCI is a three pronged project consisting of a parent-student handbook through the First Years Away From Home (FYAH) project, the LAUNCH program for students and Learn, Inspire, Foster, Transform (LIFT) for faculty development focused on the student classroom experience. Click to read the WSU Insider article.

2020 News & Noteworthy

2020 Undergraduate RA Alexis graduates with her bachelor's degree

IMPACT Undergraduate Research Assistant (RA), Alexis B. Schmierer, graduated from Washington State University with her bachelors degree in December 2020. During her time with the lab, Alexis has assisted faculty and graduate students on a variety of projects and tasks including qualitative coding, focus group transcript cleaning, comparative analysis of current opioid related work in Washington State, and assisting with IRB completion and submission. We appreciate your hard work and are proud of you! Congratulations, Alexis!
Undergraduate Research Assistant Alexis

2020 Alexis B. Schmierer awarded DBHR Prevention Fellowship

IMPACT Lab undergraduate Research Assistant Alexis B. Schmierer was awarded the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Prevention Fellowship! Alexis has been working with the IMPACT lab since January 2020 while simultaneously finishing her bachelor's degree (major: Human Development) and two certifications (Early Childhood Education and Family Studies) at Washington State University. In January 2021, Alexis will begin phase 1 of her fellowship at the Washington State Health Care Authority. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Alexis will begin her fellowship remotely. We're excited for you, Alexis! Congratulations!

2020 Elizabeth's CROP+TR project is featured in the WSU Insider

The WSU Insider recently highlighted the WSU Center for Rural Opioid Prevention, Treatment and Recovery (CROP+TR), a two year project co-led by IMPACT's Dr. Elizabeth Weybright and the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine's Dr. Michael McDonell. The two-year project has just completed year one and aims to help rural families and communities in Washington State address and prevent opioid addition through technical assistance, training, and education. Click here to read the WSU Insider article.

2020 Elizabeth named Interim Director of Extension Youth and Families Unit

IMPACT's Elizabeth Weybright was named the Interim Director of the WSU Extension Youth and Families Unit in July of 2020. Congratulations Elizabeth! Click here to read more in the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences Newsletter.

2020 Gitanjali is selected for the Early Career Reviewers Program for Prevention Science

Gitanjanli was selected for the incoming cohort of Early Career Reviewers Program for Prevention Science! The program aims to mentor early career prevention scientists by fostering an appreciation for and understanding of the peer-review process in the field of prevention science. As a reviewer, Gitanjali will commit to completing four reviews a year for two years. Congratulations, Gitanjali! Click here to learn more about the Early Career Reviewer Program.

2020 Laura is elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences

IMPACT's Laura Hill is one of seven WSU faculty recently elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences. Laura, along with the six WSU colleagues, is recognized for history of strong scientific and technical work, providing and highlighting the current best practices for the State of Washington. Specifically, Laura was recognized for her work in the field of prevention science, studying effective implementation, evaluation and scale up of prevention programs that reduce risky behaviors and enhance protective factors. Click here to read more in the WSU Insider piece.

2020 IMPACT Lab Anti-Racist Statement

The IMPACT Lab released an Anti-Racism Statement condemning the continued violence against and murder of Black Americans. Click here to read the IMPACT lab's Anti-Racism Statement.

2020 Brittany is elected to the SPR Board of Directors

IMPACT's Brittany Cooper was elected to the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) Board of Directors. Brittany will serve on the Board of Directors until June 4th, 2023. Congratulations Brittany!

2020 Brittany Cooper is elected to the WSU Faculty Senate

In addition to her roles as an IMPACT Principle Investigator and Director of the Prevention Science Graduate Program, IMPACT's Dr. Brittany Cooper was recently elected to the WSU Faculty Senate. In this role, Brittany will collaborate with the rest of the Faculty Senate to provide recommendations to WSU leadership on all of WSU activities, including education, research and service. Recommendations will also pertain to the general welfare of WSU. Brittany will serve in this role from 2020 to 2023. Congratulations Brittany!

2020 Brittany is appointed to editorial board for Implementation Research and Practice

IMPACT's Dr. Brittany Cooper has been appointed to the editorial board of the Implementation Research and Practice, an international, peer-reviewed journal focused on advancing implementation science and practice across diverse contexts. Click here to visit the journal's website.

2020 Undergraduate RA Kayli graduates with her bachelor's degree

IMPACT Undergraduate Research Assistant (RA), Kayli Elwyn, graduated from Washington State University with her bachelors degree in May 2020. During her time with the lab, Kayli has assisted faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students on a variety of projects including the Evidence-based Program Directory and looking at recruitment and retention within the Strengthening Families Program (10-14) in Washington State. Kayli has been accepted into the Master of Social Work program at Eastern Washington University. We're proud of you, Kayli!

2020 Kayli presents her research exploring recruitment and retention for the Strengthening Families Program

IMPACT undergraduate research assistant, Kayli, has spent her last semester at WSU exploring effective recruitment and retention strategies for the Strengthening Families Program (10-14). Kayli's research abstract and poster were accepted at Washington State University's 2020 Showcase for Research and Creative Activities (SURCA); however, SURCA was cancelled due to COVID-19. Kayli was able to present her work to the IMPACT lab via Zoom. Click here to see Kayli's poster.

2020 FoodMania! study featured in the WSU Insider

The WSU Insider recently highlighted work by a team at WSU, including IMPACT's Louise Parker, that explored a family-centered, media literacy oriented intervention. The group explored how empowering caregivers and children to skillfully use media could enhance family nutritional knowledge, decisions and consumption while simultaneously reducing marketing influences. Click here to read the full story.

2020 Penn State Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Brittany Cooper

IMPACT's Dr. Brittany Cooper was featured in Penn State University's College of Health and Human Development Alumni Spotlight in March. Dr. Cooper graduated from Penn State University with both her Ph.D and M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies. Dr. Cooper also spent time as a pre-doctoral fellow and evaluation specialist at the Penn State Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. Click here to read the original Alumni Spotlight piece.

2020 Brittany presents at the Penn State Prevention Research Center and Methodology Center

Brittany was invited to speak at the Penn State PRC & MC Joint seminar in March. Her talk, titled Leveraging D&I Science to Advance Understanding of Evidence-based Prevention Program Scale-Up, presented results from three different studies to illustrate how dissemination and implementation approaches and frameworks could be used to further our understanding of evidence-based program scale-up. Scale-up is essential in order to help programs, policies, and practices, which have been shown to prevent the increasing prevalence of behavioral health and related problems, impact population health.

2020 The IMPACT Lab continues to find community during COVID-19

Under Washington's Stay Home, Stay Healthy emergency order, the IMPACT lab members, like many around the world, have gotten creative in order to continue collaborating and connecting remotely. We feel lucky to have the opportunity to continue our research and academic work remotely. We hope that you and your communities are healthy.

2020 Elizabeth provides insight on boredom and COVID-19 in the WSU Insider

IMPACT lab's Elizabeth Weybright provides insight into boredom and leisure during COVID-19 with the WSU Insider. Weybright's work and interests have focused on adolescent development, leisure and free time use, positive youth development, substance use and prevention science. Click to read the WSU Insider's recent post on boredom and COVID-19.

2020 Elizabeth receives the CAHNRS Early Career Excellence award

IMPACT's Dr. Elizabeth Weybright is awarded the Early Career Excellence award for faculty and staff in the WSU College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). This award is given to faculty who have outstanding contributions to research, teaching and WSU extension during the early phases of their academic career. Congratulations Elizabeth!

2020 Elizabeth provides insight on boredom and COVID-19 in the WSU Insider

IMPACT lab's Elizabeth Weybright provides insight into boredom and leisure during COVID-19 with the WSU Insider. Weybright's work and interests have focused on adolescent development, leisure and free time use, positive youth development, substance use and prevention science. Click to read the WSU Insider's recent post on boredom and COVID-19.

2020 LIFT Faculty Fellowship featured in the WSU Insider

The WSU Transformational Change Initiative (TCI) LIFT program was featured in the WSU insider in January, showcasing it's resulting increase in student and faculty engagement. TCI aims to help WSU become a university were students are supported emotionally, socially and academically, promoting individual lifelong success among WSU graduates. LIFT is just one component of the larger TCI initiative. IMPACT Lab's Laura Hill is on a team of WSU faculty leading TCI. Click to read the WSU Insider's recent coverage of the LIFT program.

2019 News & Noteworthy

2019 Laura Hill hands off Prevention Research Subcommittee Co-chair position

Laura Hill (WSU IMPACT Lab) and Rico Catalano (UW Social Development Research Group) have served as co-chairs of the Prevention Research Subcommittee for the last several years. They are now stepping down as co-chairs, as Brittany Cooper (WSU IMPACT Lab) and Kevin Haggerty (UW SDRG) step into the roles beginning in January 2020. Thank you for your co-leadership Laura!

2019 Gitanjali graduates with her PhD in Prevention Science

IMPACT lab graduate student Gitanjali Shrestha successfully defended her dissertation at the end of November. Dr. Shrestha was hooded by Dr. Laura Hill, her mentor and dissertation chair, on Saturday 12/8/2019 at the Washington State University Commencement Celebration.

2019 Brittany Cooper awarded best presentation at the Washington State Prevention Summit

Brittany Cooper was selected as the best presentation at the Washington State Prevention Summit Providers Meeting. The Washington State Health Care Authority thanked Brittany for her thoughtful presentation and the feedback that it catalyzed. Pictured: Brittany Cooper (second from the right) with WSU Prevention Science Graduate Students, including IMPACT Lab's Kyle Murphy (far right) at another joint Prevention Summit Workshop.

2019 Sabrina DiGennaro awarded DBHR Prevention Fellowship

IMPACT Lab undergraduate Research Assistant Sabrina DiGennaro was awarded the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Prevention Fellowship! Sabrina has been working with the IMPACT lab since April 2019 while simultaneously finishing her bachelor's degree (major: Human Development, minor: Psychology) at Washington State University. In January 2020, Sabrina will head to Olympia to begin phase 1 of her fellowship at the Washington State Health Care Authority. We're excited for you Sabrina! Congratulations!

2019 SIRC Award for Outstanding Oral Presentation

The IMPACT lab's Dr. Brittany Cooper was awarded Outstanding Oral Presentation for Bridging Science and Practice at the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) Conference in Seattle. Dr. Cooper's oral presentation was titled: Evidence-based Policymaking to Prevent Youth Substance Misuse: Where the Rubber Slams into the Evidence-Based Program Implementation Road. The presentation was representative of work that IMPACT Lab members, Drs. Cooper and Hill, had completed in collaboration with the University of Washington, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP), and the Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR). The group has been exploring evidence-based policymaking and conducting cost-benefit analysis in relation to Washington State Initiative 502 and it's legislative mandate to fund state agencies for prevention and reduction of substance use. The presentation shared the group's collaborative approach they have used to address logistical barriers and provide recommendations for how other researchers, policymakers, and practitioners can use cost-benefit evaluation data to inform on-the-ground implementation decisions.

2019 Elizabeth Weybright and WSU team are awarded $1.1 million dollar SAMSHA grant to address rural opioids in WA state

IMPACT's Elizabeth Weybright is co-leading a multidisciplinary team with Michael McDonell (Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine) working towards the Center for Rural Opioid Prevention, Treatment and Recovery. The project will leverage WSU’s Extension system to provide training to rural communities to help them prevent and treat opioid addiction in Washington State. Click to read a recent press release in the WSU insider.

2019 National Prevention Network Award of Excellence

The IMPACT Lab was awarded the 2019 Award of Excellence from the National Prevention Network for their work demonstrating effectiveness of community substance abuse prevention efforts in Washington State. Pictured here: IMPACT Lab Members (L to R: Gitanjali Shrestha, PhDc, Dr. Laura Hill and Dr. Brittany Rhoades Cooper on the far right) with collaborator Ms. Sarah Mariani from the Washington State Health Care Authority.

2019 SPR Cup Winning Team

For the 2nd year in the row, WSU (Team Datum) won the Annual Society for Prevention Research Sloboda and Bukoski SPR Cup! The Cup is named for two of the founders and long-time active members of SPR, Dr. Zili Sloboda and Dr. William Bukoski. The competition is an opportunity for a unique experience: several independent teams of scientists, each working with the same data set, problem solve together for a brief period of time and then jointly present the results of their work to each other and to a panel of senior prevention scientists and the SPR membership. This year's data came from the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey. IMPACT Lab's Kyle Murphy presented our team's work on Falling and Depression among Older Adults: Explanations, Conditions, and Implications for the Forgotten Population. Pictured: WSU Prevention Science Graduate Students, Shane McFarland (team captain), Kyle Murphy (lead presenter), Myah Houghten, Garrett Jenkins, and Marie Gray; Faculty mentors: Brittany Cooper and Raven Weaver.

2019 Laura Hill awarded Friend of ECPN Award

Laura Hill was awarded the Friend of Early Career Prevention Network (ECPN) Award at the the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research! This award is presented to a mid-career or senior preventionist who has supported and encouraged early career prevention scientists or issues. Congrats, Laura!

2018 News & Noteworthy

2018 SPR Cup Winning Team

Former and current WSU Prevention Science PhD students, Eleanor Dizon, Crystal Lederhos Smith, Gitanjali Shrestha, Senait Tekle, and Ben Bayly (aka The Significant Others*) participated in 13th Annual Society for Prevention Research Sloboda and Bukoski SPR Cup. Based on ratings from an esteemed panel of Prevention Scientists and the audience, they were selected as the winning team! Three other teams competed, but they were the only team with unanimous support from the judges to pursue a publication based on their presentation. Pictured: WSU Prevention Science Graduate students, Eleanor Dizon, Crystal Lederhos Smith, Gitanjali Shrestha, Senait Tekle, and Ben Bayly. Also pictured: Faculty mentors: Brittany Cooper and Laura Hill.

2018 Gitanjali Shrestha Presents Winning Poster at ECPN

Gitanjali Shrestha presented her poster entitled Risk Factors for Adolescent Opioid Misuse in Washington State at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research (SPR). Brittany Cooper, Amy Salazar, and Angie Funaiole were also co-authors. During the SPR Awards Ceremony, Gitanjali was honored as one of the Early Career Preventionist Network (ECPN) Student Poster Contest awardees for this work. She won a one-year SPR membership and $250 travel award. Congratulations, Gitanjali!