She obtained her PhD in exercise science at Auburn University and her post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine in Adolescent and Childhood obesity prevention. Her research interest is in using physical activity in the prevention of pediatric obesity. In particular, the utilization of community family-based physical activity interventions to reduce early onset cardiovascular disease risk factors (obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus) in children of color. Her research agenda also includes examining: 1) physical activity policy-base intervention in preschool-age children; 2) environmental and media influence on various health behaviors in populations of color, and 3) after-school family-base intervention to improve physiological (obesity and diabetes risk) and psychosocial, and academic performance of pre-adolescent girls of color.