[Prevscilist] Introducing Dr. Heather Leonard!

[Dave DeGarmo]

Congratulations Heather!

From: prevscilist-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu <prevscilist-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> On Behalf Of Atika Khurana
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:22 PM
To: prevscilist at lists.uoregon.edu
Subject: [Prevscilist] Introducing Dr. Heather Leonard!


Dear Prevention Science community,

It is my great pleasure to share with you that Heather Leonard successfully defended her dissertation titled "Longitudinal associations between early parenting and adolescent allostatic load: Examining the mediating and moderating role of child delay of gratification" last week. Her dissertation used the NICHD SECCYD<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/seccyd/overview__;!!C5qS4YX3!EfZkrDsCBFP7htyS2YiJEFw8UdBoDiNHXe5sQaC5tZGNu8m9pfYJiZmtT3wFkkDVoox8_zWdK06-womAhJ8$> study data to examine longitudinal associations between parenting behaviors in early childhood and allostatic load in adolescence, including testing the mediating and moderating role of childhood delay of gratification. She was guided in this research by her committee members: Drs. Derek Kosty, Leslie Leve, Sara Schmitt, Wendy Hadley and myself.

I first met Heather when she applied to our MEd program in 2017. A non-traditional student, Heather had been active in research, teaching, and public health efforts for nearly two decades before she decided to return to graduate school. As her MEd advisor, I was so impressed with her passion for prevention-related work, strong work ethic, and clear sense of purpose that I encouraged her to apply to the PhD program. She graduated from the MEd program in 2018, with the promise that she will consider applying to the PhD program. Later in 2019 I bumped into Doug (Heather's husband) at a local pizza joint and asked him to nudge Heather to apply to the PhD program. It worked! Heather applied and got accepted in the PhD program, starting at the height of the pandemic in Fall 2020. She has been a fantastic student collaborator on research projects and a gifted instructor, who most recently worked as a GE for the Ballmer Institute's inaugural 3-course graduate micro-credential<https://childrensbehavioralhealth.uoregon.edu/graduate-microcredential> in children's behavioral health. Heather will continue sharing her incredible teaching and research skills with students in the Prevention Science program in her new role as career faculty member in the CPHS department starting Fall 2023.

Please join me in congratulating Heather on her many accomplishments!

Best,
Atika


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