Biography

 

SCYATTA A. WALLACE, PhD, received her doctorate in Developmental Psychology from Fordham University and her BA in Psychology from Yale University.  Dr. Wallace also completed a two year post doctoral research fellowship at the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr. Wallace’s research interests include examining contextual and socio-cultural influences associated with HIV risk among Black adolescents and young adults.  Her work has a strong focus on community-based participatory research (CBPR) and youth engagement.

Dr. Wallace is currently a principal investigator on a mixed methods study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The objective of the study is identify socio-cultural factors associated with HIV risk and HIV testing among low income heterosexual young adult Black men with a recent history of incarceration.   Dr. Wallace develops interactive health education programs for youth; including her work with BET Rap It Up Campaign and is involved in several projects evaluating community-based services provided to at risk youth. 

Dr. Wallace has received several grants including funding from NIH and the American Psychological Association.    She is Chair of the American Psychological Association Committee on Psychology and AIDS, is an NIH Loan Repayment recipient (2006-pres) and has been featured in the APA Monitor (2011) “APA steps up advocacy efforts on HIV/AIDS”.  Previous honors include being named an NIH Health Disparities Scholar (2002-2004), receiving the first Dalmas A. Taylor Summer Policy Fellowship (2000) awarded by the American Psychological Association, and receiving a Graduate Research Ethics Education Training fellowship from the National Science Foundation (1998-2001).  Dr. Wallace is an active volunteer in her community and on the board of several youth serving organizations.