Sharifa Z. Williams, MS, DrPH, joined the Bloustein School in September 2022. Her research interests include biostatistical methods applied to identifying and quantifying health disparities that arise from exposure to structural adversity (i.e., discrimination and socioeconomic disadvantage). This includes examining longitudinal trends in psychosocial exposures across the life course and how they interact with structural adversity to impact health and well-being. Another valued part of Shar’s scholarly work involves contributing to and advancing research and public health practice as a methodologic collaborator. In this role, she consults on the design and analytic plans for papers and projects, as well as grant applications.
Shar received her Doctor of Public Health in Biostatistics from Columbia University. She also holds a Master of Public Health in Health Policy & Management and a Master of Science in Biostatistics (Theory and Methods) from Columbia University. Shar is a proud Douglass College (Rutgers University) alumna from the class of 2004.
Research Interests
- identifying disparities in mental health, allostatic load, and aging related to racial discrimination and socioeconomic adversity
- examining longitudinal trends in psychosocial exposures across the life course
- describing overdose, suicide, and related health outcomes in large statewide datasets
- application of hierarchical Bayesian modeling approaches for survey estimation and inference
Undergraduate Courses
- Health Disparities
- Research Methods