Calvin M. Sims

Calvin M. Sims, MA received his Master’s Degree in General Psychology at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington and has extensive experience in the areas of research, health and social psychology. His previous work can be broadly characterized as the study of alcohol and substance abuse. He has extensively looked at the unique interplay of alcohol presence and victim blaming in cases of sexual aggression against women and as such has worked as a research assistant on multiple NIAAA/ NIH grants with Drs. Nora Noel (PI), Stephen A. Maisto, (PI) and Jennifer Funderburk (PI). He has also worked as a consultant on a NIH grant designed to study cancer outcome rates in African-Americans with Dr. James Johnson (PI). As research assistant, he has worked extensively in data collection and management, research design, and has helped to train and oversee other research assistants. Calvin has also attended several research conferences throughout his career, culminating in several peer reviewed publications and academic presentations. Calvin’s research interests have grown to include the prevention of substance use and risky sexual behavior in preadolescent and adolescent youth. Currently at iRT, Calvin is working as a research assistant on a grant to develop a mindfulness based substance abuse prevention program for elementary school-aged children, under the direction of Dr. Alison Parker.