The goal of Dr. Tyra's research is wellness promotion and disease prevention in vulnerable populations, with a particular interest in health disparities along the lines of race, age and income. Dr. Tyra first became fascinated with breastfeeding during her undergraduate studies at Louisiana State University (LSU) while studying nutrition because she saw no one in her family nor community then breastfeeding. After learning about racial disparities in breastfeeding rates, she gained her Master of Public Health degree at LSU Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC). She later completed her PhD in in Health Promotion & Behavior at the University of Georgia, where she focused on successful long-term breastfeeding experiences of African-American mothers enrolled in Georgia WIC for her dissertation.