Summary
Research interests
The main focus of my research is to study how childhood adversity influences health and risk behaviors among youth. I am particularly interested in how positive factors, such as resilience and assets, can buffer the negative influence of childhood adversity.
Faculty mentors
- Dr. Kristen Clements-Nolle
- Dr. Wei Yang
- Dr. Roy Oman
- Dr. Minggen Lu
Awards
- Outstanding Community Service Award Finalist, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno
- Graduate Dean’s Merit Scholar, University of Nevada, Reno
- Public Health Doctoral Student of the Year, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno
Selected presentations and publications
Lensch T, Clements-Nolle K, Oman RF, Lu M. A longitudinal study of the protective influence of youth assets on juvenile arrest. JPublic Health.2019. E-pub ahead of print.
Lensch T, Clements-Nolle K, Oman RF, Lu M. The prospective impact of individual, family, and community youth assets on adolescent suicide ideation. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2019;73(3): 219-224.
Clements-Nolle K, Lensch T, Yang Y, Martin H, Peek J, Yang W. Attempted suicide among adolescents in military families: The mediating role of adverse childhood experiences. J Interpers Violence. 2020. E-pub ahead of print.
Education
2020, Ph.D. in Public Health with specialization in Epidemiology, University of Nevada, Reno
2016, MPH, University of Nevada, Reno
2014, B.S. in Biology, University of Nevada, Reno