She’s studied boredom as a risk factor for academic failure and substance abuse in youth.
She’s delved into the world of risky behaviors among teens that lead to sexually transmitted diseases.
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| Melissa Tibbits, Ph.D. |
And now Melissa Tibbits, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the UNMC College of Public Health, evaluates the efficacy of community based projects designed to reduce the rate of obesity in Omaha.
Ask Dr. Tibbits what the most interesting part of her job is and you might just be surprised.
"I love to contribute to the success of projects by providing insight through evaluation that refines them and makes them better," Dr. Tibbits said.
As an evaluator, Dr. Tibbits dissects a project to see what is working and what needs to be improved.
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Currently Dr. Tibbits works with the Douglas County Health Department and colleagues in the College of Public Health in her evaluation of the obesity rate grant project.
She helps evaluate several sub-projects tied to the grant. One project focuses on encouraging more physical activity among youth. Another looks at getting healthier food choices into the neighborhood convenience stores.
A native of Tulsa, Okla., Dr. Tibbits always thought she wanted to be a psychologist. She soon realized after taking part in a community-based research project during her last year of undergraduate school that she liked working in the public health field more.
"I want to be part of finding solutions and preventing problems before they start," she said.