Rodlescia S. Sneed, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor

Dr. Sneed is an assistant professor in the Division of Public Health in Flint.   She is a social and health psychologist interested in evaluating and improving how older adults age successfully in vulnerable communities.  Her work evaluates interactions between the social environment, stress, and social support in the lives and long-term health outcomes of older adults.  Further, she utilizes community engaged approaches to understand how chronic disease prevention and intervention efforts work best among older adults in community settings.    Dr. Sneed is a Research Scientist with the Michigan Center for Urban African-American Aging Research (MCUAAAR), and a Faculty Fellow in the MSU Center of Excellence Faculty Development program.  A Detroit native, Dr. Sneed earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Epidemiology at Columbia University and a PhD in Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University.

Select Publications

Sneed RS, Dotson K, Brewer A, Pugh P, Johnson-Lawrence VD (in press, 2019).  Behavioral Health Concerns During the Flint Water Crisis, 2016-2018. Community Mental Health Journal.  DOI: 10.1007/s10597-019-00520-7.

Johnson-Lawrence V, Bailey S, Sanders P, Sneed R, Angel-Vincent A, Brewer A, Lewis EY, Johnson JE (2018).    The Church Challenge: A Community-Based Multilevel Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Blood Pressure and Wellness in African American Churches in Flint, Michigan. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications.  

Johnson-Lawrence, VD, Zajacova A, & Sneed R.S. (2017). Education, race/ethnicity, and multimorbidity among adults aged 30-64 in the National Health Interview Survey.  SSM-Population Health, 3, 366-372. 

Sneed R.S., Schulz R. (2017).  Grandparent Caregiving, Race, and Cognitive Function in a Population-Based Sample of Older Adults.  Journal of Aging and Health.

Beach, S.R., Schulz R., Sneed R.S.   (2016). Associations between Social Support, Social Networks and Financial Exploitation in Older Adults.   Journal of Applied Gerontology

Sneed R.S., Cohen S. (2014).  Negative Social Interactions and Incident Hypertension Among Older Adults.  Health Psychology, 33, 554-565.

Research Projects

Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of Using the Community Resiliency Model as a Stress Reduction Program Among Grandparent Caregivers

Role: Principal Investigator

The Health and Well-Being of African-American Older Adults With a History of Incarceration

This study utilizes population-based data and key informant interviews to evaluate the social, psychological, and physical health status of community-dwelling older adults who have been incarcerated.

Role: Principal Investigator

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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

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