Leslie Spencer

literature reviews, in which I evaluated the TTM as applied to the following areas: tobacco use, cancer screening behavior, dietary behavior and exercise behavior.  More recently, I and my colleagues developed a  program for medical residents in which they were trained to use Motivational Interviewing strategies with patients.  My next goal is to develop a fully online training program for nurses using Motivational Interviewing strategies to support teenage patients with asthma.  I am partnering with Dr. Patricia Becker, Department of Nursing, on this project.

My research in the area of creating fitness and nutrition programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is ongoing and is unique in that it also involves the caregiver as a recipient of the programs. My colleagues and I have created a model for both fitness programming that is appropriate for people with IDD and a model for family-based nutrition counseling which uses a Motivational Interviewing strategy.

Honors and Awards:
Distinguished Undergraduate Program Award, National Wellness Institute

Member of:
National Wellness Institute (nationalwellness.org)

Recent Academic Projects:
Creation of a Master of Arts in Wellness and Lifestyle Management and a Certificate of Graduate Study in Wellness Coaching