Donna M. Cole is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Public Policy & Law Program. Professor Cole is a medical sociologist with public health expertise in infectious diseases. She is a former research fellow of the Yale School of Public Health, where she conducted research on racial health equity and HIV/AIDS among African American women. Her research examines the health consequences of criminal justice and drug policies for African Americans and emphasizes community-based, anti-racist research methodologies and the analysis of health policies regarding racial health equity and bioethics.
 
Professor Cole is a graduate of Northeastern University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Sociology. She completed a graduate degree in Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation at Boston College and graduate education in infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Nevada. Dr. Cole began her career as a social worker in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Her experience in behavioral health spans work at the Department of State and the Department of Defense, in sexual assault prevention, with the EEOC, and as an advocate for criminal justice reform.
 
Professor Cole’s approach to teaching is based in principles of restorative justice. She approaches teaching as an opportunity to assist students in understanding the implications of policy for vulnerable and marginalized populations. She encourages her students to think about interventions that address race as a social determinant of health and to conduct research that will enhance their structural competence.

Publications:

• Cole, D.M., Agudelo F, Massenburg N, Lipiner T. (2023). "My God Has Not Spoken”: A Qualitative Study of HIV Management Experiences Among African American Women. JBSR; 9(3-4):209 -237.
• F. Agudelo, Cole, D.M., Gallant, S., Mabee, C. (2021). Restorative Justice and the School to Prison Pipeline: A Conceptual Framework to Address Racial and Ethnic Disproportionality. Children and Schools Journal.
• Cole, D.M., Thomas, D.M., Field, K., Wool, A., Lipiner, T. Massenberg, N., Guthrie, B.J. (2018). The 21st Century Cures Act Implications for the Reduction of Racial Health Disparities in the US Criminal Justice System: A Public Health Approach.  Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 1-8.
• Cole D.M.  A case study: “If they had a cure, I would not take it”: African American women living with HIV/AIDS. Women's Health: Readings on Social, Economic, and Political Issues. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. 2017;491-495.

Presentations:

• Cole, D.M. “Sociological Implications of COVID-19: Thriving in A Virtual World.” The American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC)’s conference. January 2021.
• Cole, D.M. HIV Management Experiences of African American Women Living in a Racially Segregated Community. Qualitative Research Discussion Group, Yale University, Connecticut, September 2019.
• Cole, D.M. Race Matters: Impact of School Discipline on U.S. Youth Incarceration Rates. Nineteenth annual Diversity Challenge Conference: “Race, Culture, and WHMP: Survival, Resistance, and Healing in the Current Social Climate.” Boston College, Massachusetts, October 2019.
• Cole, D.M. “Incarceration is a Key Driver of HIV/AIDS: Mass Incarceration and Its Impacts on Health,” World AIDS Day, Simmons University, December 2018.
• Cole, D.M. “Using Mixed Methods to Answer Research Questions.” The New England HIV Implementation Science Network, Regional Workshop: Community Research Capacity Building, Yale University, March 2017.
• Cole, D.M. “My God Has Not Spoken:” The Experiences of African-American Women Living with HIV” Nancy Kelly Memorial Lecture, Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA, 2015.
• Cole, D.M. “What gives me Imani (Faith),” Black Student Organization Kwanzaa Celebration, Simmons University, December 2015.
• Cole, D.M. “Implications of HIV/AIDS on the U.S. Population,” World AIDS Day, Simmons University, December 2015.
• Cole, D.M. “‘If They Had a Cure, I Would Not Take It’ Provider Distrust Among African American Women Living with HIV.”  “Racial Inequalities in Health Services and Health Professions” session, Annual Meeting, The Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) Conference at SSSP in San Francisco, CA August 2014.
• Cole, D.M. Use of Alternative Medicine Among African Americans: Implications for ART Adherence Alternative and Complementary Health, Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA) Conference, November 2014.
• Cole, D.M. “The Importance of Social Support for African Americans Living with HIV.” AIDS Connecticut, January 2014.