Vanessa Hatton, PhD, Analyst, brings experience in researching health and educational equity issues, particularly through an examination of social determinants at the intersection of race and gender. She has conducted research studies to examine the impact of discriminatory practices by healthcare, law enforcement, and education institutions on people based on their race, gender, and other identities. Vanessa is skilled in instrument design and quantitative data analysis, including but not limited to advanced regression, hierarchical linear modeling, and structural equation modeling.
Prior to joining Community Science, Vanessa worked at the Rutgers University as research scientist and course instructor. Among her accomplishments are projects that studied the relationship between individuals’ identity and their experiences with medical treatment, analyzed data about police interaction from the Police Violence Mapping and Fatal Encounters databases, and assessed the effectiveness of Rutgers University programs designed to support first-generation, low-income students of color. She has also assisted with evaluations of learner-centered education, nonprofit leadership development, and culturally competent health education initiatives. She has published in Social Science & Medicine and the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry and presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology about the role of racial discrimination on the mental and physical health of African Americans.
Vanessa holds a doctoral degree and a Masters of Science in Social Psychology from the Rutgers University. In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys learning to play guitar, reading, playing video games, and gardening.