Biography

Dr. Blackman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at California State University, Northridge. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Performance from Howard University (with honors) and PhD in Human Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise from Virginia Tech.

Further, Dr. Blackman completed a Postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Prevention and Control in the Division of Health Behavior Research in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California. She also worked as a Research Analyst in the Division of HIV & STDs in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Dr. Blackman is a public health researcher, lactavist, and advocate that has experience in multi-level community partnered participatory approaches to support birthing persons and their families primarily through the perinatal period. Additionally, she has employed culturally informed and health literacy appropriate mobile health technologies in community settings.

Publications

View full list of publications here.

Current Projects

• Augmented Reality Milk Flow
• Evaluating the Quality of Lactation in Higher Education Policies in California
• Wheelchair-Robot Assistive Device for Low Mobility Clients

Past Projects

• Doulas' Perspectives about Providing Support to Birthing Families During COVID-19
• Black Birth Equity Workers Glowing Through COVID-19
• Determining the availability and marketing of infant formula and lactation support products
• Augmented Reality Milk Flow
• Evaluating the Quality of Lactation in Higher Education Policies in California