Debra J. Holden

Expertise

Cancer Prevention and Control
Evaluation Planning
Community-Based Research
Public Health Program Evaluation

Biography

Debra Holden, PhD, is director of RTI’s Community and Health Education Research Program. A community health psychologist, Dr. Holden has more than 20 years of experience working in a variety of settings to implement and evaluate health programs, including those at the national, state, and local levels. She has significant research experience, particularly with all types of evaluation research, consulting, teaching, and advising. Key areas of expertise include community- and health-related evaluation planning and research, survey design and development, qualitative research methods, application of health behavior theory to practice, community-based intervention design, and implementation and institutionalization of programs. She has extensive experience in a variety of techniques to work with expert groups to facilitate group decision making of complex and important issues. Content areas of expertise include cancer control, tobacco prevention and control, and chronic disease prevention.

Education

PhD, Community Psychology, North Carolina State University; MS, Community Psychology, North Carolina State University; BA, Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Selected Publications

Holden, D.J. (June 2006). Book review: Empowerment evaluation principles in practice. Health Education and Behavior, 33 (3):410-412.

Holden, D.J., Evans, W.D., Hinnant, L.W., & Messeri, P. (2005). Modeling psychological empowerment among youth involved in local tobacco control efforts. Health Education and Behavior, 32 (2):264-278.

Hersey, J.C., Niederdeppe, J., Evans, W.D., Nonnemaker, J., Blahut, S., Holden, D., Messeri, P., & Haviland, M.L. (2005). The theory of 'truth': How counterindustry media campaigns affect smoking behavior among teens. Health Psychology, 24 (1):22-31.

Holden, D.J., Messeri, P., Evans, W.D., Crankshaw, E., & Ben-Davies, M. (Oct 2004). Conceptualizing youth empowerment within tobacco control(D.J. Holden, & P. Messeri, Ed.). Health Education and Behavior (D.J. Holden, & P. Messeri, Ed.), 31 (5):548-563.

Holden, D.J., Crankshaw, E., Nimsch, C., Hinnant, L.W., & Hund, L. (2004). Quantifying the Impact of Participation in Local Tobacco Control Groups on the Psychological Empowerment of Involved Youth(Holden, D.J., & P. Messeri, Ed.). Health Education and Behavior (Holden, D.J., & P. Messeri, Ed.), 31 (5):615-628.

Hersey, J.C., Niederdeppe, J., Evans, W.D., Nonnemaker, J., Blahut, S., Farrelly, M.C., Holden, D., Messeri, P., & Haviland, M.L. (2003). The effects of state counterindustry media campaigns on beliefs, attitudes, and smoking status among teens and young adults. Preventive Medicine, 37 (6):544-552.

Holden, D.J., Moore, K.S., & Holliday, J.L. (June 1998). Health education for a breast and cervical cancer screening program: using the ecological model to assess local initiatives. Health Education Research, 13 (2):293-299.

Baker-Ward, L., Ornstein, P.A., & Holden, D.J. (June 1984). The expression of memorization in early childhood. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 37 (3):555-575.

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