Assistant Professor

Office:    R.E. Jones Building (JONS) Room 2230
Phone:   (860) 486-5073
Email:    loneke.blackman_carr@uconn.edu

• • Health disparities| Nutrition | Physical activity | Obesity treatment and prevention | Behavioral interventions

Research Projects (current)

• • The Sisters in Health Study: A Weight Loss Intervention for African American Women, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC,  funded by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Commission on Dietetic Registration Doctoral Scholarship and the Institute for African American Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Graduate Student Summer Research Grant. A 6-month randomized controlled trial that compared two behavioral weight loss interventions in African American women. The standard behavioral approach was compared to a culturally relevant physical activity enhanced behavioral treatment. Role: Principal Investigator (2015-Present)

Research Projects (completed)

• • Religion, Spirituality and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Focus on African Americans. This R01 uses a mixed-methods approach to investigate differences in religion/spirituality across denominations within the Black church, and the impact on CVD risk factors, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension and depression. Previous evidence addresses the Black church as a singular entity, but we aim to delineate any variations in CVD risk by religion/spirituality. Role: Postdoctoral Associate (2017-2019)
  • Lifestyle Behaviors for a Healthy Heart, Department of Exercise Physiology, School of Health Sciences, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC. An NIH-funded behavior change intervention designed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in African American undergraduates that also incorporated a mobile health (mHealth) approach. Role: Interventionist/Research Associate  (2017-2018)
  • UNC Weight Research Center, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Role: Graduate Research Assistant (2011-2017)
  • Lifestyle Behaviors for a Healthy Heart, Department of Exercise Physiology, School of Health Sciences, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC. Role: Interventionist/Research Associate  (2016)
  • Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Role: Graduate Research Assistant (2010-2011)
  • The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program/Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Role: Dietetic Intern (2009)
  • Department of Nutrition Science & Dietetics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. Role: Graduate Research Assistant (2008-2009)
  • The Genesis Health Project, Department of Health and Wellness, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. Role: Graduate Research Assistant (2009)

PUBLICATIONS

• • Bell, C., Blackman Carr, L.T. (2019). The role of weight perception in race differences in body mass index by education among women. Revise and resubmit.
  • Blackman Carr. L.T., Nezami, B.T., Leone, L.A. (2019). Mediation of Exercise Differences in Black Women With and Without Obesity: A Mediation Analysis. Submitted.
  • Duren-Winfield, V., Blackman Carr, L.T., McCauley, G., Roberson, K., Williams, J., Kizakevich, P., Onsomu, E., Price, A. (2019). Developing an Evidence-Based Cardiovascular Disease Risk-Prevention Program to Promote Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors among African-American College Students – Rams Have HEART. Submitted.
  • Blackman Carr, L.T., Samuel-Hodge, C., Ward, D. S., Evenson, K. R., Bangdiwala, S. I., Tate, D. F. (2019). Comparative Effectiveness of a Standard Behavioral and Physical Activity Enhanced Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention in African American Women. Under Review.
  • Bentley-Edwards, K.L., Robbins, P.A., Blackman Carr, L.T., Conde-Dudding, E., Zaw, K., Darity, W. (2019). More than just Black: Gendered denominational variation in depression risk within Black churches. Submitted.
  • Bentley-Edwards, K.L., Blackman Carr, L.T., Robbins, P.A., Conde-Dudding, E., Zaw, K., Darity, W. (2019). Investigating Denominational Differences in Obesity and Diabetes in Black Christians. Journal of Religion and Health, 1-16.
  • Blackman Carr, L.T., Samuel-Hodge, C., Ward, D. S., Evenson, K. R., Bangdiwala, S. I., Tate, D. F. (2018). Racial Differences in Weight Loss Mediated by Engagement and Behavior Change. Ethnicity & Disease, 28(1), 43-48.
  • Allicock, M., Golin, C.E., Kaye, L., Grodensky, C., Blackman, L.T., Thibodeaux, H. (2016). SafeTalk: Training Peers to Deliver a Motivational Interviewing HIV Prevention Program. Health Promotion Practice, 18(3), 410-417.
  • Ries, A.V., Blackman, L.T., Page, R.A., Gizlice, Z., Benedict, S., Barnes, K., Kelsey, K., Carter-Edwards, L. (2014). Goal setting for health behavior change: Evidence from an obesity intervention for rural low-income women. Rural and Remote Health, 14(2), 2682.

SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS

• • Blackman Carr, L.T. Physical activity benefits and barriers in black women during weight loss treatment. Presentation accepted by the Physical Activity Special Interest Group, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Behavior Change Grand Rounds Spotlight on Trainee Research, (July 2019)
  • Blackman Carr, L.T., Bentley-Edwards, K., Robbins, P., Conde, E., Darity Jr., W. It is well with my heart? An examination of religion and religious practice on obesity and diabetes in Christian Black Adults. Oral presentation accepted by the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, (November 2019)
  • Talley, L., Blackman Carr, L. T., Bentley-Edwards, K. (2019). Religious/Spiritual Typological Differences in Cardiovascular Health among a Nationally-Representative Sample of Black Christians: Evidence from the National Survey of American Life. Oral presentation accepted by the American Public Health Association.
  • Robbins, P. Bentley-Edwards, K., Blackman Carr, L.T., Conde, E., Darity Jr., W. Gendered denominational variation in depression odds within the Black Church. Oral presentation accepted by the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, (November 2019)
  • Blackman Carr, L.T., Robbins, P.A., Bentley-Edwards, K.L. Worship and wellness: Differences in obesity and diabetes among black Christians by denomination. Poster accepted to be presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, (March 2019)
  • Blackman Carr, L.T., Nezami, B.T., Leone, L.A. Understanding the mechanisms of movement. Physical activity and barrier differences in obese and non-obese black women. Poster accepted to be presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, (March 2019)
  • Blackman Carr, L.T., Samuel-Hodge, C., Ward, D. S., Evenson, K. R., Bangdiwala, S. I., Tate, D. F. A comparison of behavioral weight loss interventions to maximize weight loss in black women. Paper accepted to be presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, (March 2019)
  • Blackman, L.T., Valle, C.V., Tate, D.F. Differences in Weight Control Eating Behaviors among Black and White Women Enrolled in a Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention.  Poster presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., (April 2016)
  • Allicock, M., Golin, C., Grodensky, C., Kaye, L., Blackman, L., & Thibodeaux, H. Can a Motivational Interviewing-based safer sex program for people living with HIV be adapted for peer delivery? Results from a pilot training. Oral Presentation at the International Conference of Motivational Interviewing, Amsterdam, Netherlands. (June 2014)
  • Braxton, D., Samuel-Hodge, C., Blackman, L.T., Skinner, H. The Role of Stress in Determining Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Southern African American Women. Poster at the Southern Research Circle Poster Session, Chapel Hill, NC. (October 2014)
  • Valle, C.G., Bordogna, R.K., Blackman, L., Alick, C., Tate, D.F. If You Build It, Will They Come and Communicate? Young Adult Cancer Survivors’ Engagement in a Facebook-Based Physical Activity Intervention. Poster at the 7th Biennial Survivorship Research Conference, Atlanta, GA. (June 2014)
  • Blackman, L.T., Crane, M.M., Valle, C.G., Tate, D.F. (2013). An exploration of exercise beliefs and physical activity among obese women enrolling in a behavioral weight loss program. Poster presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. (March 2013)
  • Blackman, L.T. Formative Research for the Dissemination of the Seeds of HOPE Intervention. Poster presentation at the 33rd Annual Minority Health Conference at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill, NC. (February 2012)

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

• • Unpacking the Weight: Reducing Obesity in Black Women. Research Seminar, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. (2019)
  • A Career in Nutrition & Health Disparities. Nutrition Graduate Student Association, Meredith College, Raleigh, NC (2019)

FUNDING

      Ongoing Research Support

• • Religion, spirituality and CVD risk: A focus on African Americans.  The goal of this mixed methods study is to investigate the role of religion and spirituality in cardiovascular disease risk among Blacks adults. This project specifically examines the effect of religion and spirituality on the risk factors of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and depression. Role: Postdoctoral Associate (2017-2022)

      Completed Research Support

• • Summer Research Grant: Institute for African American Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  This award supported the continuation and completion of a behavioral weight loss intervention for Black women to determine if the approaches compared yielded differential weight loss and physical activity outcomes. Role: Principal Investigator, $2000 total award (2016)
  • Doctoral Research Grant: Comparative effectiveness trial for weight loss, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.  The goal of the study was to determine if a culturally relevant, physical activity enhanced behavioral weight loss intervention would produce greater weight loss than a standard behavioral weight loss intervention in Black women. Role: Principal Investigator, $10,000 total award (2015)
  • Ruth L. Kirschstein, Institutional Research Nutrition Training Grant. This grant provided mentored research training to predoctoral students in nutrition and the conduct of behavioral intervention science. Role: Pre-doctoral trainee (2012-2013)

AWARDS & HONORS

• • Duke Postdoctoral Award for Professional Development, Duke University, Durham, NC (2019)
  • Invited scholar, New Connections Capstone Symposium, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Orleans, LA (2019)
  • Invited scholar, New Connections Symposium, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Philadelphia, PA (2018)
  • Economic Security Initiative Citizen of the Year Award, Mid-Atlantic Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (2013)
  • UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Naomi R. Koehler Scholarship (2013-2014)

SERVICE

      University

• • Expanding Equitable Access to Undergraduate Research Opportunities at Duke: A Design Session, Duke Learning Innovation, Duke University (2019)
  • Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Panelist, Graduate Career Consortium Regional Conference, Duke University
  • Guest Speaker, Hank & Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute, Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, Duke University (2018)
  • Panelist, North Carolina Central University Program Partners, UNC Office of Student Affairs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2013)
  • Student Member, Nutrition Department Diversity Committee, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2012-2015)
  • Planning Subcommittee, 32nd Annual Minority Health Conference, The Promise of Health Equity: Advancing the Discussion to Eliminate Disparities in the 21st Century, Minority Student Caucus, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2010-2011)
  • Master’s Student Representative, Department of Nutrition Science & Dietetics, College of Human Ecology, Syracuse University (2008-2009)

     Community

• • Member, Collaborative Council for Food System Planning in Durham (2018-Present)
  • Member, Partnership for a Healthy Durham, Obesity, Diabetes & Food Access Committee (2017-Present)
  • Assistant Secretary, Executive Board, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (Sigma Tau Omega Chapter, Cary, NC (2017-2019)
  • Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (Sigma Tau Omega Chapter, Cary, NC (2012-Present)
  • Volunteer Chair & Program Volunteer, The Queen’s Foundation, Incorporated (2011-2015)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

• • Guest Lecturer, PubPol 190FS.02 Race and Public Policy, Separate and Unequal Food, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC (2018)
  • Lecturer, EXS 1301-01 Lifestyle Behaviors for a Healthy Heart, Department of Exercise Physiology, School of Health Sciences, Winston-Salem State University,  Winston-Salem, NC (2017)
  • Teaching Assistant, NUTR 728 Nutrition Translational Research and Application, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (2017)
  • Guest Lecturer, PHS 202A Research Methods, Department of, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences, Elon University, Elon, NC (2015)
  • Guest Lecturer, PHS 201B Introduction to Public Health, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences, Elon University, Elon, NC (2015)
  • Guest Lecturer, PHS 201C Introduction to Public Health, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences, Elon University, Elon, NC (2014)
  • Guest Lecturer, PHS 461 A Senior Seminar in Public Health: Putting Health in its Place, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences, Elon University, Elon, NC (2014)
  • Teaching Assistant, Health Behavior (HBHE) 811 Development and Evaluation of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Interventions, Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (2013)
  • Teaching Assistant, NUTR 240 Introduction to Human Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (2013)
  • Teaching Assistant, NUTR 715 Dietary Change Interventions, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (2012)

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

• • Member, Scholar Strategy Network (2018-Present)
  • Member, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Health Equity Special Interest Group, Obesity & Eating Disorders Special Interest Group (2018-Present)
  • Member, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Physical Activity Special Interest Group (2013-2016 and 2018-Present)
  • Member, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2005-2015)