Biography

Alexandra Mills is a PhD candidate in Health Behavior Research. Her research examines risk and protective factors for substance use among young adults. She graduated with a BA in Psychology and Human and Social Development before beginning her doctoral training. Her dissertation investigates the reciprocal relationships between binge drinking and mental health across young adulthood. Another line of her work focuses on identifying sociodemographic factors that moderate the associations between mental health and binge drinking, with the goal of informing tailored prevention and culturally-informed intervention strategies. Her prior research experience includes examining MDMA use and sexual risk-taking behaviors among African Americans, as well as studying sexual violence victimization and pregaming protective behavioral strategies among college students. In her spare time, she enjoys playing beach volleyball, practicing yoga, and hiking.