Rodlescia S. Sneed, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor

Dr. Rodlescia S. Sneed is an assistant professor in the Master of Public Health Program at Michigan State University.

Dr. Sneed is a social gerontologist whose research focuses on aging, health equity, and the social conditions that shape health and well-being across the life course. A major focus of her work examines the health and aging experiences of adults with histories of incarceration, including the consequences of incarceration and reentry for physical health, mental health, social relationships, health care access, cognition, sleep, and other indicators of well-being in later life.

Her research also examines social relationships, stress, social support, and community contexts as determinants of healthy aging, particularly among populations experiencing social and structural disadvantage. She uses quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and community-engaged approaches to understand these processes and to develop and evaluate interventions designed to improve health and well-being among older adults.

Dr. Sneed serves as deputy editor-in-chief of The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Aging Research in Criminal Justice & Health (ARCH) Network.

Select Publications

Sneed, R. S., Reese, E. R., Jennings, E. G., Sikorskii, A., Zlotnick, C., & Johnson, J. E. (2025). Maximizing the scalability of the chronic disease self-management program among older adults in state correctional settings: A study protocol. Implementation Science Communications, 6(1), 116.

Sneed, R. S., & Nguyen, A. L. (2025). Expanding our scope: Embracing mixed methods research in the psychological science of aging. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 80(8), gbaf109.

Sneed, R. S., & Chan, A. C. Y. (2023). The implications of intergenerational relationships for minority aging: A review of recent literature. Current Epidemiology Reports, 10(1), 44–50.

Sneed, R. S., Stubblefield, A., Gardner, G., Jordan, T., & Mezuk, B. (2024). Chronic disease and workforce participation among Medicaid enrollees over 50: The potential impact of Medicaid work requirements post-COVID-19. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 36(3), 380–398.

Sneed, R. S., Hailemariam, M., Key, K. D., Jordan, T., Miller, R., Richie, F., Robinson, D., Saddler, S., Spencer, B., Summers, M., McCoy White, J., & Johnson, J. E. (2022). Developing and maintaining intergenerational relationships in an economically vulnerable community: Findings from the Flint Women’s Study. Journal of Women & Aging, 34(6), 706–718.

Research Projects

Maximizing the Scalability of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Among Older Adults in State Correctional Settings

Funder: National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health

This project uses a mixed methods approach to engage health professionals, program staff, corrections staff, and incarcerated individuals in developing scalability and sustainment strategies for implementing the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program among older adults within a state correctional system.

Role: Principal Investigator

ADRD Risk and Resilience Among Black Americans: A 20-Year Longitudinal Study

Funder: National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health

This project involves re-interview of surviving participants in the National Survey of American Life, a well-characterized sample of African American and Caribbean Black Americans, to collect longitudinal data on a range of racism-related risk factors and culturally relevant psychosocial resources for cognitive functioning, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and related health outcomes in later life.

Role: Co-Investigator / Detroit Site PI

Intergenerational Wisdom Exchange Program: A Pilot Program for Black and Hispanic Older Adults in Detroit and Lubbock

Funder: Retirement Research Foundation for Aging

This is a two-year research demonstration project that uses a community-engaged approach to develop an Intergenerational Wisdom Exchange Program (WisE) for socially isolated Black and Hispanic older adults. This project aims to create social bonds and promote meaningful engagement between older and younger generations through exchange of life stories and teaching computer literacy.

Role: Co-Principal Investigator / Detroit Site PI

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Education

  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Social Gerontology/Geriatric Mental Health, 2016
    University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Social and Health Psychology, 2014
    Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Master of Public Health, Epidemiology, 2004
    Columbia University, New York City, NY
  • Bachelor of Arts, Molecular Biology, 2000
    Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

Public Health Courses Taught

  • PH 101: Introduction to Public Health
  • PH 828: Community Engagement in Public Health Practice

Professional Experience/Expertise

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University
  • Social relationships, social support, and health
  • Stress and resilience in vulnerable populations
  • Healthy and productive aging
  • Community-based participatory research
  • Mixed methods research
  • Psychosocial factors and chronic disease risk