Faculty & Staff
Faculty
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Roxann (McNeish) Taormina, PhD, M.S.W.Assistant Research ProfessorPhone: 813-974-9897 |
Roxann (McNeish) Taormina, PhD, MPH, MSW is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies within the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida, with affiliated teaching in the College of Public Health and the School of Social Work. Dr. Taormina’s applied community mental health experience from direct practice with adults and youth informs her work, which is grounded in collaborative partnerships with organizations and communities to translate evidence into effective and sustainable action that promotes wellbeing.
Dr. Taormina brings extensive experience in mental health–related research and evaluation of national, statewide, and community-based initiatives across social service systems. Her scholarship and commitment have centered on improving mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable and at-risk populations, primarily within child welfare and over the last ten years, among men and boys—particularly males of color in challenging community environments.
Dr. Taormina has special interest and many years of experience in community-engaged initiatives, having worked closely with various types of organizations, diverse communities and marginalized populations to build organizational and community capacity, with the goal of enhancing the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of services to community members. Much of this work has involved providing technical assistance and guidance on program planning, implementation and evaluation.
She has served as Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, Consultant and Co-Investigator on federally, foundation, and locally funded projects, from large-scale, multi-site initiatives to smaller organization-initiated projects, securing over 3 million in funding. She has authored or co-authored peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, technical reports, and national presentations focused on male mental health, community-based behavioral health interventions, and system-level strategies to reduce disparities and improve services and wellbeing.