Directory Profile
Jini Puma PhD
Associate Director (RMPRC), Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Jini Puma is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health and is the Associate Director of the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center (RMPRC). Dr. Puma has led or co-led numerous federal, state, local, and foundation grants, including the RMPRC School and Community Wellness Program (SCWP), Fostering Resilience in Early Education (FREE), Supporting Trauma Awareness and Nurturing Children’s Environments (STANCE), and Workforce in Low-resources Locations (WELL). She received her doctorate in Quantitative Research Methods at the University of Denver in 2007 and has been with the RMPRC since then. Dr. Puma has received several awards including: the Gertrude Cox Scholarship Honorable Mention in 2004, given to outstanding women in the field of statistics; the Master's Scholar award in 2012, given to nine distinguished University of Denver alumni for the work they are doing in their fields; and the ColoradoSPH Excellence in Research award in 2019.
Areas of Expertise
- Early childhood obesity prevention
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Mental health and well-being of the early childhood workforce
- Refugee health
- Community-based participatory research methodology
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- University of Denver, PhD, Quantitative Research Methods, 2007
- University of Denver, MA, Quantitative Research Methods, 2004
- University of Denver, BA, Biology & Psychology, 2000