Amanda Straus
Assistant Director, Research,
College of Health Solutions
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Mail code: 9020Campus: Dtphx
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Long Bio
Amanda Straus holds a Doctor of Behavioral Health - Management (DBH), a Master of Project Management (MPM), a Master of Science in the Science of Health Care Delivery (MS), and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Sciences from Arizona State University. These degrees equipped her with a deep understanding of behavioral health and management, which she applies in her work to promote others' health.
Dr. Straus is dedicated to identifying upstream, integrated health interventions to improve health outcomes across diverse populations. Throughout her career, she has prioritized developing risk mitigation strategies and interventions focused on preventive measures.
Dr. Straus serves as Assistant Director, Research in the Nourish to Flourish Studio. This project involves developing initiatives to promote nutritional education among K-12, freshmen, and medical students. Other priorities include launching a Teacher's Fellow Program, promoting health literacy through Science Center exhibits, and building partnerships to enhance health and well-being with an emphasis on nutrition.
Dr. Straus serves as a Collaborator in the Military and Veteran Resilience and Health Collaborative (MVRHC) to improve service members' health. To aid the dissemination of key findings, she is actively involved in developing publications to raise awareness of the risk and protective factors affecting military members.
In addition to her research experience, she works as an instructional professional and was previously a graduate assistant. In both roles, she has ensured the prompt delivery of grades and detailed feedback to students. She is committed to further learning and helping others achieve their educational and professional goals.
Education
- DBH, Behavioral Health (Management), Arizona State University
- MPM, Project Management, Arizona State University
- MS, Science of Health Care Delivery, Arizona State University
- BS, Health Sciences, Arizona State University
Certifications
- Certified Green Project Manager, Green Project Management
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Arizona State University
- Emergency Medical Technician Certificate, Phoenix College
Google Scholar URL
ORCID Profile ID
Research Interests
- Nourish to Flourish through Principled Innovation
- Nutrition Curriculum Delivery through Curated Lunches for Medical School Students
- Innovative Approaches to Teacher Training and Integrating Activities in the Classroom K-12
- After-school Nutrition Activities in K-8
- Health Promotion in Science Centers and Museums
- A Community-Based and Multidisciplinary Collaboration to Prevent Veteran Suicide
- Addressing Social Determinants of Health for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families
- Cross-Cutting Prevention Through an Upstream Focus on Social Determinants of Health Within Military Settings
- Veteran Suicide Mortality Review
Research Group
Publications
- Cassalia, R., Straus, A., Stevenson, K., Cruz, A., & Magana, J. (2025). Evaluation of Components to Include in a Cross-Cutting Prevention Model Adaptable for Use Across Diverse Military Settings. Military Medicine, 190, Issue Supplement_2, 777–783. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usaf330
- Straus, A., Larson, R., & Winkel, N. (2025). Be Connected Community Guide to Postvention. https://connectveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Postvention-Guide_spreads.pdf
- Straus, A., Eagle, J., & Larson, R. (2025). Arizona Veteran Survey 2017 - 2023 Comparison Report. https://connectveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Arizona-Veteran-Survey-Comparison-Report-2017-2023-FINAL.pdf
- Straus, A., Larson, R., & Wright, W. (2024). The Impact of Military Service on Social Determinants as Predictive Factors for Suicide among Female Veterans. Journal of Community Health, 50, 483-490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-024-01427-5
- Larson, R. M., Saxon, M., Phillips, M. A., Broussard, M. L., Straus, A. R., & Wright, W. A. (2024). The Social Determinants of Suicide among Female Service Members and Veterans: Running Title: Social Determinants of Suicide. Journal of Community Health, 49(5), 935–941. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-024-01359-0
- Straus, A., Eagle, J., & Larson, R. (2024). 2023 Arizona Veteran Survey Full Report. https://connectveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Survey-Report-2023-April-16.pdf
- Straus, A. & Larson, R. (2023). 2021 Arizona Veteran Survey Full Report. https://connectveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Survey-Report-2021-FINAL.pdf
- Straus, A., Sharma, N., Mattie, H., Pine, K. H., & Lopez, G. (2023). Examining the Relationship Between Rurality, Risk Perception, and COVID-19 Vaccine Willingness Among Rural Latinos in Arizona and California. Journal of Community Health, 48(6), 945–950. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-023-01217-5
- Larson, R., Saxon, M., Pfieffer, A., & Straus, A. (2023). 2019 Arizona Veteran Survey Full Report. http://connectveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2019-AZ-Veteran-Survey-Full-Report.pdf
Research Activity
Conferences
- Anderson, A., Lyken, L., Straus, A., Cruz, A., Whisner, C., & Wharton, C. (2026, October 22). Building Health Equity through Teacher Professional Learning: Designing the Flourishing through Food Teacher Fellowship [Poster]. Arizona Health Equity Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
- Straus, A., Anderson, A., Cruz, A., Whisner, C., & Wharton, C. (2026, September 16-19). Cultivating Character through Nutrition and Sustainable Food Systems [Poster]. Association of Science and Technology Centers Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
- Straus, A., Cassalia, R., Cruz, A., Kahldon, S., Stevenson, K., & Magana, J. (2026, March 25). Evaluating cross-cutting prevention themes for use in military settings [Poster]. Arizona State University College of Health Solutions Faculty and Staff Research Day. Tempe, Arizona.
- Straus, A., Cassalia, R., & Cruz, A. (2026, March 25). The resilience quality index as a tool to identify risk factors at a military installation [Poster]. Arizona State University College of Health Solutions Faculty and Staff Research Day. Tempe, Arizona.
- Straus, A., Cassalia, R., & Cruz, A. (2026, March 2-5). The resilience quality index as a tool to identify risk factors at a military installation [Poster]. AMSUS Annual Meeting. National Harbor, Maryland.
- Cassalia, R., Straus, A., & Cruz, A. (2026, March 2-5). Utilizing data to inform decision making [Poster]. AMSUS Annual Meeting. National Harbor, Maryland.
- Straus, A., Cassalia, R., & Cruz, A. (2025, November 2-5). The resilience quality index as a tool to measure the effectiveness of interventions [Presentation]. American Public Health Association Conference. Washington, District of Columbia.
- Cassalia, R., Straus, A., & Cruz, A. (2025, November 2-5). Integrating exercise and nutritional training courses at military sites to enhance readiness [Presentation]. American Public Health Association Conference. Washington, District of Columbia.
- Straus, A., & Cassalia, R. (2025, November 7). The impact of veterans' experiences of military sexual trauma on their social determinants [Poster]. ASU Institute of Social Science Research Graduate Student Poster Expo. Tempe, Arizona.
- Cassalia, R., Straus, A., Stevenson, K., & Cruz, A. (2025, October 23). Social determinants of health: Unpacking the needs of active and retired military members [Poster]. Arizona Health Equity Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
- Straus, A. & Larson, R. (2025, April 7-10). Veterans’ family trauma [Presentation and Poster]. Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma Hawai'i Summit. Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Straus, A. & Larson, R. (2025, April 7-10). Incarcerated veterans childhood trauma [Presentation and Poster]. Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma Hawai'i Summit. Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Straus, A., Larson, R., Cruz, A., & Kahldon, S. (2025, April 7-10). Developing and testing the resilience quality index [Presentation and Poster]. Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma Hawai'i Summit. Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Straus, A., Larson, R., Cruz, A., Kahldon, S., Stevenson, K., & Magana, J. (2025, April 7-10). Evaluating cross-cutting prevention themes for use in military settings [Presentation and Poster]. Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma Hawai'i Summit. Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Straus, A., Larson, R., Cruz, A., Kahldon, S., Stevenson, K., & Magana, J. (2025, April 7-10). Data training at military installations [Presentation and Poster]. Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma Hawai'i Summit. Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Straus, A., Larson, R., Siebrecht, A., Winkel, N., & Person, D. (2024, October 27-30). Coaching into connection: Risk reduction through social connectedness [Poster]. American Public Health Association Conference. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Straus, A., Bermudez, D., & Larson, R. (2024, October 10). Beyond the uniform: Mental and physical health experiences of female veterans in Arizona [Poster]. Arizona Health Equity Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
- Straus, A., Bermudez, D., & Larson, R. (2024, October 10). The impact of ethnicity on the experiences of Hispanic veterans in Arizona [Poster]. Arizona Health Equity Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
- Straus, A., Bermudez, D., & Larson, R. (2024, April 18). Beyond the uniform: Mental and physical health experiences of female veterans in Arizona [Poster]. ASU New College Undergraduate Inquiry and Research Experience Research Symposium. Glendale, Arizona.
- Larson, R. & Straus, A. (2022, October 20-21). Veteran resiliency review [Presentation]. 5th Annual Veterans in Society Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
- Winkel, N., Larson, R., Straus, A., & Person, D. (2022, November 6-9). Veteran resiliency review: An exploration of veterans’ lived experiences and their experience navigating resources [Poster]. American Public Health Association Conference. Boston, Massachusetts.
- Sharma, N., Straus, A., Lopez, G., Pine, K., & Mattie, H. (2021, October 24-27). COVID-19, rurality, and perceptions of risk and prevention among LatinX in California and Arizona [Presentation]. American Public Health Association Conference. Denver, Colorado.
- Straus, A., Sharma, N., Lopez, G., & Pine, K. (2021, April 22). Place, race, and health: Perception of COVID-19 risks and vaccine willingness in a sample of LatinX living in Arizona and California [Poster Presentation]. ASU College of Health Solutions Master’s Capstone Symposium. Phoenix, Arizona.
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