She conducts disability services research related to substance use disorders and child welfare. She has taught social policy, research methods and social work practice courses at Salem State University since 2005. Dr. Slayter obtained both a master's and doctoral degree in social policy and health services research from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University where her scholarship focused on disability and health policy. During her time at Heller, Dr. Slayter was a pre-doctoral trainee supported by the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) and an American Fellow supported by the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Dr. Slayter has also received training in Community-Based Participatory Research from the National Institutes of Mental Health.