Kathleen Ragsdale
Research Fellow & Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Mississippi State University
Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology, University of Florida
- E-mail: kathleen.ragsdale@ssrc.msstate.edu
- Phone: (662) 325-9168
- Fax: (662) 325-7966
Ragsdale received her Ph.D. in cultural anthropology in 2002 from the University of Florida, where she focused on applied medical anthropology and health communication. In 2003-04, she held a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), a multidisciplinary HIV prevention research center affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. In 2004-05, Ragsdale held a Postdoctoral Research Associate position at the Center for Ethics Education, Fordham University, New York, NY, which was followed in 2005-07 by a National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Development and Research Institutes, New York, NY. She joined the Mississippi State University Social Science Research Center (SSRC) in 2007.
As a medical anthropologist, Ragsdale’s academic and research interests are centered on minority health disparities and community-based participatory research to address: HIV prevention and sexual risk behaviors; alcohol and other drug use; health communication and eHealth technologies; gender and power disparities; and health-related social justice for vulnerable populations. Her research program examines how individual, behavioral, and environmental factors shape risk behaviors, with a primary focus on high-risk behaviors among youth and young adults.
RESEARCH / AREAS OF INTEREST
HIV prevention; sexual risk; alcohol and other drug use; vulnerable and at-risk youth and young adults; social media, eHealth, public health ICT (information and communication technology); gender, power and health disparities; community-based participatory research.
EDUCATION & FELLOWSHIPS
2005-2007 NIDA NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, Behavioral Sciences Training in Drug Abuse Research Program, National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI), New York.
2004-2005 Marie Ward Doty Postdoctoral Research Associate, Center for Ethics Education, Fordham University, New York.
2003-2004 NIMH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
2002 PhD, Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville.
1997 MA, Sociology, Florida International University, Miami.
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2011- Adjunct Faculty, Department of Sociology & Social Work, Mississippi State University.
2009- Assistant Research Professor, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University.
2007-2009 Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work, Mississippi State University.
2007- Research Fellow, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University.
2007 Adjunct Faculty, Department of Urban Public Health, Hunter College CUNY, New York.
2006 Adjunct Faculty, College of Nursing, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn.
2001-2002 Instructor, Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville.
1996 Instructor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Florida International University, Miami.
AWARDS & HONORS
2010- Fellow, Society for Applied Anthropology.
2010 Researcher of the Month–October, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University.
2009-2011 NIH Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Award, National Center on Minority Health & Health Disparities.
2009 Career Development Funds Award, Cyber Mentor Program, American Psychological Association.
2003-2005 NIH Health Disparities LRP Award, National Center on Minority Health & Health Disparities.
2002 John M. Goggin Award for Outstanding PhD Research & Writing in Anthropology, University of Florida.
1999 International Population Studies Scholarship, Center for Population Planning, Population Fellows Summer Program, University of Michigan.
1995 Anthony P. Maingot Graduate Prize for the Greater Caribbean, Florida International University.
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2012 Invited Member, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Special Emphasis Panel (SEP), PS11-0010201Supp12, HIV Behavioral Surveillance.
2012 Panel moderator, Sex::Tech 2012: 5th Annual Conference on New Media, Youth & Sexual Health, San Francisco, CA (pending).
2012- Member, SSRC Scientific/Scholarly Validity Review Committee, Mississippi State University.
2011- Member, Institutional Review Board (IRB) Committee, Mississippi State University.
2010 Chair, CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention SEP, PS10-1003, HIV Prevention Projects for Community-Based Organizations.
2009 Co-Chair, American Anthropological Association Conference Program, Society for Medical Anthropology (with C. Smith-Morris).
2008- Mentee, Cyber Mentor Program, American Psychological Association Office on AIDS.
2007 Evaluation Consultant, Latino Organization for Liver Awareness (LOLA), New York, NY.
2006- Contributing Editor, Society for Medical Anthropology, Anthropology News.
2005 Reviewer, NIH Center for Scientific Review, Community-Level Health Promotion Study Section.
2005 Invited Presenter, Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY.
2001-2002 Member, Campus HIV Education & Policy Committee, University of Florida.
PUBLICATIONS
PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES & BOOK CHAPTERS
Walton LR, K Ragsdale, H Seitz. Under review. Strategic use of YouTube during a national public health crisis: The CDC’s response to the 2009 H1N1 flu epidemic. Case Studies in Strategic Communication.
Bersamin M, K Ragsdale K, BL Zamboanga, MR Kerric, JW Grube. Under review. Development of sexual expectancies among adolescents with no prior sexual intercourse experience: Contributions by parents, peers and the media. Journal of Sex Research.
Ragsdale K, JR Porter, BL Zamboanga, JS St Lawrence, R Read-Wahidi, A White. In press. High risk drinking among female college drinkers at two reporting Intervals: Comparing Spring Break to the 30 days prior. Sexuality Research & Social Policy. doi: 10.1007/s13178-011-0071-0.
Ragsdale K, JR Porter, R Mathews, A White, C Gore-Felton C, EL McGarvey. In press. ‘Liquor before beer, you’re in the clear’: Binge drinking and other risk behaviors among fraternity/sorority members and their non-Greek peers. Journal of Substance Use.
Seal DW, DA Moskowitz, JL Boller, K Ragsdale, MCW Couples Together Team. Under review. Most erotic experiences among new dating couples: A comparison across gender and couple type. Journal of Sex Research.
Ragsdale K, C Gore-Felton, C Koopman, DW Seal. 2009. Relationship power, acculturation, and sexual risk behavior among low-income Latinas of Mexican or Puerto Rican ethnicity. [Special issue: State of the art in sexuality research]. Sexuality Research & Social Policy, 6(1), 56-69.
Wutich A, K Ragsdale. 2008. Water insecurity and emotional distress: Coping with supply, access, and seasonal variability of water in a Bolivian squatter settlement. Social Science & Medicine, 67(12), 2116-2125.PMID: 18954928.
Grant K, K Ragsdale. 2008. Sex and the ‘recently single’: Perceptions of sexuality and HIV risk among mature women and primary care physicians. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 10(5), 495-511. PMID: 18568872.
Ragsdale K, JT Anders, E Philippakos. 2007. Migrant Latinas and brothel sex work in Belize: Sexual agency and sexual risk. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 14(1), 26-34. PMID: 19172970.
Ragsdale K. 2007. Intervention studies. In S. Boslaugh (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Epidemiology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 562-564.
Benotsch EG, CD Nettles, F Wong, J Redmann, J Boschini, SD Pinkerton, K Ragsdale, JM Mikytuck. 2007. Sexual risk behavior in men attending Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana. Journal of Community Health, 32(5), 343-356. PMID: 17922205. Free PMC Article
Benotsch EG, JM Mikytuck, K Ragsdale, SD Pinkerton. 2006. Sexual risk and HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men travelers to Key West, Florida: A mathematical modeling analysis. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 20(8), 549-556. PMID: 16893324.
Benotsch EG, S Seeley, JM Mikytuck, SD Pinkerton, CD Nettles, K Ragsdale. 2006. Substance use, medications for sexual facilitation, and sexual risk behavior among traveling men who have sex with men. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 33(12), 706-711. PMID: 16688098.
Ragsdale K, W DiFranceisco W, SD Pinkerton. 2006. Where the boys are: Sexual expectations and behaviour among young women on holiday. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 8(2), 85-98. PMID: 16641059.
Fisher CB, Ragsdale K. 2006. Goodness-of-fit ethics for multicultural research. In JE Trimble, C Fisher (Eds.), Handbook of Ethical Research with Ethnocultural Populations and Communities. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Pp. 3-26.
Ragsdale K. 2006. Ethnocentrism. In Y. Jackson, (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Pp. 204-206.
Ward J, Ragsdale K. 2004. Latinas, sexual communication & HIV/AIDS education: Notes from the field. AIDS & Anthropology, 16(2), 2.
Ragsdale K, JT Anders. 1999. The muchachas of Orange Walk Town, Belize. In K. Kempadoo (Ed.), Sun, Sex, and Gold: Tourism and Sex Work in the Caribbean. Boulder: Rowman & Littlefield. Pp. 217-236.
Peacock WG, Ragsdale K. 1997. Social systems, ecological networks and disasters: Toward a socio-political ecology of disasters. In WG Peacock, B Morrow, H Gladwin, (Eds.), Hurricane Andrew: Ethnicity, Gender, and the Sociology of DisastersNY: Routledge. Pp. 20-35.
EHEALTH, MULTIMEDIA & REPORTS
Ragsdale K, A Robertson, C Baird-Thomas, R Read, J Husain, A Karges, K Gresham. 2010. STDs and HIV Prevention: Keep you and your partner safe from HIV and other STDs. Educational DVD and companion guide.
Robertson A, J Husain, A Karges, H Liew, S Gardner, C Baird-Thomas, K Gresham, K Ragsdale. 2010. Final report: HIV testing and prevention in substance abuse treatment. Delta Health Alliance (DHA-08-001): Addressing Healthcare Gaps in the Mississippi Delta. Social Science Research Center, MSU.
Strauss SM, K Ragsdale, J Simmons, N Tiburcio. 2007. Final Evaluation Report: Latino Organization for Liver Awareness (LOLA), Hepatitis C Virus Initiative. National Development & Research Institutes, New York, NY.
Ragsdale K, JT Anders. 1998. The muchachas of Orange Walk Town and sex work in Belize. In K Kempadoo, C Mellon (Eds.), The Sex Trade in the Caribbean. Boulder: The Sex Trade in the Caribbean Project Steering Committee, University of Colorado-Boulder.
Ragsdale K. 1997. Forbidden fruit: An exploration of the madonna/whore complex. Educational video. Harn Museum, Gainesville, FL.
Morrow BH, K Ragsdale. 1996. Early response to Hurricane Marilyn in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Quick Response Research Report #82. National Hazard Observer. National Hazard Research & Application Information Center, University of Colorado-Boulder.
Ragsdale K, Y Ogle, TP Clark TP. 1995. Remedies from our own back yards: Medicinal use of common Miami plants by immigrant groups. Educational poster. The Miami Herald.
CURRENT GRANTS & CONTRACTS
MSU ORED Cross-College Research Grant K. Ragsdale (PI) 2011-2012
eHealth Research Group: Risk Behavior Prevention Among Rural & Minority Youth
Establish research program to develop/pilot cellphone-based eHealth interventions to reduce risk behaviors.
Role: PI
MSU ORED Cross-College Research Grant K. Ragsdale (PI) 2011-2012
Social, Sexual & Drinking Networks (SSDN) Research Group: College ‘Drinking Culture’ & Students’ High Risk Behavior Prevention Needs Examine college drinking culture, peer norms, and the social, sexual, and drinking networks to inform eHealth prevention programs for students.
Role: PI
MSU ORED Cross-College Research Grant R. Williams (PI) 2011-2012
Health Impact Assessment of Local Community Health Initiatives
Assess local community health needs to development/implementation community health initiatives.
Role: Co-I
Social Science Research Center K. Ragsdale (PI) 2011-2012
Delta Teen eHealth Focus Group Project
Pilot study to assess feasibility of eHealth to reduce risk behaviors among rural/minority youth in Mississippi.
Role: PI
COMPLETED
Delta Health Alliance (DHA-08-001) A. Robertson (PI), K. Ragsdale (Co-PI) 2008-2009
C. Baird-Thomas (Co-PI)
HIV Testing & Prevention Services in Substance Abuse Treatment (HIV Project 35)
Multisite, multimethods study to increase on-site HIV rapid testing and HIV prevention knowledge among AOD treatment clients in the Mississippi Delta. $306,921
Role: Co-PI
MSU Research Initiation Program K. Ragsdale (PI) 2008-2009
High-Risk Drinking and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Female Spring Breakers (Spring Break 2008 Study)
Mixed-methods study to assess college students’ risk behaviors during Spring Break and 30 days prior. $10,000
Role: PI
New York State Health Department/NDRI S.M. Strauss (PI) 2006-2007
Latino Organization for Liver Awareness, Hepatitis C Virus Initiative
Evaluated effectiveness of the community-based program to increase HIV/HCV prevention awareness among minorityat-risk populations (e.g., Rikers Island female inmates, IDUs, MSM/transgender sex workers). $35,000
Role: Evaluator/Research Scientist
NIMH R21 MH078790 E. Benotsch (PI) 2006-2008
HIV Risk Behavior in Men Engaged in Recreational Travel
Examined substance use and HIV/STI risk among men who have sex with men (MSM) tourists. $275,000
Role: Research Scientist
NIMH P30-MH52776 K. Ragsdale (PI) 2003-2004
Safer Sex Negotiation & Behavior among Young Adult Latina Women
Mixed-methods study to assess relationship power and sexual risk among Latinas in Milwaukee, WI. $8,000
Role: PI
NIMH R01-MH62972 D.W. Seal (PI) 2002-2004
Qualitative Study of Couples’ Communication and Behavior
Longitudinal multimethods study to assess intimacy development among couples in new relationships.
Role: Research Scientist
Tinker Foundation K. Ragsdale (PI) 2001-2002
Tourist Women Balancing Temptation and HIV-Risk in Costa Rica
Multimethods study of vacation-specific sexual risk behaviors among female tourist in Jacó, Costa Rica. $2,000
Role: PI
UNIFEM, U Colorado-Boulder K. Ragsdale (PI) 1997-1998
Sex and Tourism in Belize: A Comparison Study of Tourism Sites
Multisite, multimethods study of sexual risk behaviors among migrant brothel sex workers in Belize. $8,000
Role: PI
Miami Herald/Knight Ridder K. Ragsdale (PI) 1995
Remedies from Our Own Back Yards: Medicinal Uses of Common Plants by Immigrant Groups
Qualitative study of medicinal plants in the urban landscape and use among immigrants in Miami, FL.
Role: PI
NSF CMS-9632458 B. Morrow (PI) 1995
Hurricane Marilyn Disaster Research Quick Response Team
Multisite, multimethods rapid assessment study to evaluate FEMA and Red Cross response among Afro-Caribbean disaster victims in the US Virgin Islands.
Role: Evaluator/Research Scientist
Wellcome Foundation, U Miami Sch Med D. Taplin (PI) 1993
Epidemiology Survey Team
Three-armed epidemiological study of head lice treatment among indigenous Kuna Yala, Ticantiki, Panama.
Role: Research Scientist
SSRC 2011 Annual Report
Click here to download the PDF version. Click here for the interactive online version.
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