Biography
Dr. Nyembwe’s research is focused on improving cardiovascular health outcomes and addressing health inequities, primarily focused on the interplay between social determinants of health, mental health, and cardiovascular health outcomes. Specifically, she explores the complex relationships between experiences of discrimination, coping strategies, depressive symptoms, and blood pressure outcomes, with a particular focus on African American women. She received her PhD in Nursing from the University of California, Irvine. Her dissertation focused on how depressive and anxiety symptoms influence the association between perceived discrimination and readiness to quit cigarette smoking among African American adults experiencing homelessness. After earning her doctorate, Dr. Nyembwe completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Columbia University, expanding her knowledge on discrimination, coping, and blood pressure. Through her research, Dr. Nyembwe aims to develop free or low-cost coping interventions to mitigate the physiological and psychological harm stemming from stress related to experiences of discrimination.
Research Interests
Social determinants of health, coping, blood pressure, healthy aging
Education
PhD, Nursing – University of California, Irvine, 2022
MSN – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 2017
MBA – University of Phoenix, 2012
BS, Human Development and Family Studies – University of Nevada, Reno, 2010
Honors and Awards
American Heart Association Health Equity Research Network Fellow 2025
American Heart Association
Stanley Behrens School of Nursing PhD Fellow 2022
University of California, Irvine
Public Impact Fellow 2021
University of California, Irvine
Ellen Olshansky Scholarship Recipient 2021
University of California, Irvine
Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI) Fellow 2020
University of California, Irvine
Eugene R. Cota Robles Fellow 2019-2022
University of California, Irvine
National Black Nurses Association Under 40 Award 2018
National Black Nurses Association
