Doctor of Philosophy, Health Behavior and Health Education, anticipated 2014
Master of Public Health, Health Behavior and Health Education, April 2009
Public Health Genetics Interdepartmental Concentration
Concurrently completed pre-medicine curriculum
University of Michigan-Flint
Bachelor of Science, Clinical/Community Psychology, Honors Scholar, April 2004
Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, Honors Scholar, April 2004
Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies
GPA: 3.89/4.0 overall, 4.0/4.0 in Psychology, 4.0/4.0 in Anthropology
Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis: Cultural Perceptions of the Etiology of Childhood Disability and Relationship to Treatment in the United States and West Africa
Field Research in Benin, West Africa, Summer 2002
Employed 30-40 hours per week to pay educational expenses.
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Advanced Statistics Training
Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research
Completed two 4-week courses, Summer 2009:
Regression II
Advanced Multivariate Statistical Methods
CSCAR
SAS Beginner and Intermediate Training, Fall 2005
American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting Workshop
Qualitative Methods Software: Choosing and Using the Right Software for You, Fall 2003
Rackham Summer Institute Program
3-month doctoral student orientation and professional socialization program, Summer 2009.
Institutional Review Board Workshops
E-Research Basics, Fall 2008
Fundamentals of Informed Consent, Fall 2008
Center for Research on Learning and Teaching
Graduate Student Instructor Orientation, January 2007.
Training for Multicultural Classroom Facilitation, Fall 2008.
Enriching Scholarship: UM Teaching and Technology Collaborative, Spring 2008, 2009.
SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS
Rackham Merit Fellowship, 2009 – 2014, faculty nomination based, competitive funding package for incoming graduate students with outstanding academic qualifications, exceptional potential for success in their program, and demonstrated promise for contribution to broader academic, professional, or civic communities.
Maize and Blue Award for Distinguished Scholarship, 2004, UM-Flint’s highest honor to graduates.
Nominated independently by 5 faculty members across 3 departments.
University of Michigan-Flint Scholar Award (GPA>3.5), 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
All-American Academic Award, 2000, 2002, 2003
National Dean's List, 2003
National Collegiate Natural Sciences Award, 2000
Biological Sciences Comic Competition 1st place, 2001
RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Developmental/Behavioral Intervention Consultant Petrak & Associates Ability Building, LLC, May 2000 – June 2002, March 2005 – present
Develop and apply evidence-based social and academic intervention programs for children with autism spectrum disorders and support to their families in educational system advocacy.
Founder and Executive Director Engaging Abilities, Ann Arbor, MI, January 2008 – present
Created non-profit organization dedicated to education, advocacy and outreach to support people affected by mental and physical disabilities. Recruited a small, dedicated volunteer staff for organization management, development of a social networking website to facilitate integration of disability communities, and an education outreach program.
Healthcare Research Analyst Karlsberger Healthcare Consulting, Ann Arbor, MI, February 2008 – January 2009
Collaborate with a team in the collection and analysis of health-system specific data about organizational structure and functioning and utilize these data in development of reports identifying problem areas and propose best practice based solutions to improve the delivery of efficient, effective health care.
Graduate Assistant Michigan Road Scholars Tour, University of Michigan State Outreach, March 2008 – June 2008
Co-facilitated a week-long traveling seminar throughout Michigan designed to educate UM faculty about the state’s population, economy, environment, health care and educational systems.
Research Technician Associate Healthy Minds Study, University of Michigan School of Public Health, August 2006 – January 2007
Co-prepared Internal Review Board application and recruited schools into the national sample for this national annual survey of college student mental health.
Research Technician Associate University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center, September 2003 – May 2006
Coordinated two longitudinal studies screening infants and toddlers at high risk for autism spectrum disorders or developmental delay. Identified and recruited high-risk populations, supported families through the diagnostic process and assisted them with the identification and utilization of community resources, and devised integrated file and electronic data tracking system.
Administrative Assistant Women’s and Gender Studies Program, University of Michigan -Flint, August 2002 – April 2004
Received and disseminated information regarding requests for speakers in community events, made student advisor referrals, and conducted a WGS Program awareness campaign.
Research Assistant Women’s Educational Center, Issues in Women’s Citizenship: Local and Global Assessments, University of Michigan- Flint, May 2003 – December 2003
Obtained Internal Review Board approval, recruited participants from the Flint, MI community, performed interviews, and assisted in design of data analysis.
Behavioral Intervention Aide Lepak and Associates, Walled Lake, MI, May 2001 – June 2002
Co-planned and facilitated social and academic intervention programs and provided one-on-one communication support for children with autism spectrum disorders at clinic summer camp and preschool.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Standardized Patient Instructor Standardized Patient Program, University of Michigan Medical School, April 2008 – present
Portray a medical patient in order to evaluate and give constructive verbal and written feedback on residents’ and medical students’ clinical interaction and communication skills in the following pediatric cases: developmental delay, breaking bad news, and the Clinical Comprehensive Assessment.
Mentor Sociology Department, University of Michigan, January 2009 – present
Supervise Independent Study and Sociology Undergraduate Research Program for several students.
Graduate Student Instructor University of Michigan Ann Arbor, January 2007-April 2009, 5 Semesters
UC 105: Health and Health Care (Required for Health Sciences Scholars Program)
UC 106: Perspectives on Health Care (Required for Health Sciences Scholars Program)
Soc 345/Women’s Studies 348: Sociology of Sexuality
Soc 101: Person in Society: An Introduction to Sociology Through Social Psychology
Completing the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching UM Graduate Teacher Certificate Program & the Training for Multicultural Classroom Facilitation
Supplemental Instructor University of Michigan Flint, August 2000 – April 2004, 14 Semesters
Psy 301: Basic Statistics and Probability, Soc/Ant/Psy 325: Culture and Personality
Psy 201: Methods of Research Design
Supplemental Instruction Leadership Training, August 2000
Laboratory Assistant University of Michigan Flint, August 2000 – April 2004, 14 Semesters
Psy 301: Basic Statistics and Probability, Psy 386: Sensation and Perception
Psy/Hcr 527: Personnel Selection and Evaluation
Tutor University of Michigan Flint, Student Development Center, January 2001– April 2004
Assisted students in a wide variety of social science theory, methods, and laboratory courses.
Consultant regarding classroom, laboratory, and testing accommodations for a student with autism.
Mott Adult Education, Flint, MI, September 1998 - June 1999
English as a Second Language
Selected Guest Lectures
Culture and Conceptions of Mental Illness: An Analysis of the Work of Arthur Kleinman. Presented to Ant/Soc 325: Culture and Personality, April 2003
Psychic Life, Personhood, and Culture in Freud’s Id, Ego, and Superego. Presented to Ant/Soc 325: Culture and Personality, February 2003, and Soc 303: Contemporary Social Theory, October 2002
Decentered or Divided: Applying Derrida’s Theories to the Social Dynamics of Mental Illness. Presented to Soc 303: Contemporary Social Theory, November 2001
Issues Involved in the Treatment of Autism in Young Children. Presented to Psy 237: Developmental Psychology, October 2000
PUBLICATIONS
Petrak, R. (in preparation). The Adventures of Chip Monk: A Fun Children's Book Series to Promote Social Development.
Petrak, R. (in preparation). Passing at School: Examining Disability Identity Disclosure in Academic Communities. Submitted to K. E. Nielson & J. A. Brune (Eds.), Blurring the Lines: Disability, Race, Gender and Passing in Modern America.
Luyster, R., Gotham, K., Guthrie, W., Coffing, M., Petrak, R., DiLavore, P., Pierce, K., Bishop, S., Esler, A., Hus, V., Richler, J., Risi, S., Lord, C. (pending). The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Toddler Module: A new module of a standardized diagnostic measure for autism spectrum disorders. Accepted in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Petrak, R. (2003). Selfhood Otherwise Categorized: Dominant Cultural Discourses on Non-typical Behavior in the U.S. and Benin. Meeting of the Minds XI Proceedings, 54-60.
Petrak, R. (2003). Enculturating Children: Children’s Agency, Expectations, Responsibilities, and Roles in Benin. Meeting of the Minds XI Proceedings, 71-76.
Petrak, R. (2001). Enhancing the Development of Self Concept in Children with Autism. Meeting of the Minds IX Proceedings, 133-139.
SELECTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Petrak, R. (2009, August). Allies for Ability: Improving Campus Climate through the Promotion of Ability Friendly Safe Spaces. Association for Graduate Education in the Professoriate, Ann Arbor, MI.
Petrak, R. (2007, November). Understanding Visibility Among LGBT Health Care Providers. American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
Petrak, R. (2007, May). A Conceptual Model for Treatment Utilization Behavior in the Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. International Meeting for Autism Research, Seattle, WA.
Luyster, R. J., Risi, S., Petrak, R., & Lord, C. (2007, May). Vocabulary Development in Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders. International Meeting for Autism Research, Seattle, WA.
Lord, C., Coffing, M., Luyster, R., Petrak, R., Richler, J. (2007, March). Searching for the Forest in the Trees: Individual Trajectories in Toddlers who May Have Autism. Biennial Society for Research in Child Development Conference, Boston, MA.
Richler, J., Niehus, R., Petrak, R., Risi, S., & Lord, C. (2007, March). Trajectories of Development in Toddlers at risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biennial Society for Research in Child Development Conference, Boston, MA.
Wetherby, A., Morgan, L., Watt, N., Shumway, S., Niehus, R., Petrak, R., Risi, S., & Lord, C. (2006, June). Social Communication Profiles of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Second and Third Years of Life. International Meeting for Autism Research, Montreal, QU, Canada.
Petrak, R., Risi, S., & Lord, C. (2005, April). Joint Attention Cues and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Delay, and Typical Development. Biennial Society for Research in Child Development Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Petrak, R. (2004, August). Autism in West Africa: Developing a Model for Early Intervention. American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI.
Petrak, R. (2003, November). Personhood Prescribed: Deviance, Discourse, and Social Stability in Benin and the United States. American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Petrak, R. (2003, March). Rethinking Autism and Language Delay among Children: A Cross Cultural Inquiry into the Social Constructions of Non-Verbal Behavior. Michigan Academy Annual Meeting, Holland, MI.
SCHOLARSHIPS
University of Michigan School of Public Health Dean's Office Tuition Scholarship, 2006
Awarded in 2007/2008. Declined for alternative funding. Klare Memorial Scholarship University of Michigan, 2007/2008 Awarded based on academic scholarship.Declined for alternative funding. Westwood Heights Lions Club Scholarship,2003 Awarded based on academic scholarship and community service commitment. Honors Program Scholarship, 2000, 2001, 2002 Freeman Psychology Scholarship, 2001. Awarded based on academic scholarship. True Blue Service Scholarship, 2000. Awarded based on community service commitment.
GRANTS
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education Conference Travel Grant, 2007 International Meeting for Autism Research Student Travel Grant, 2007 Fran Frasier Student Conference Travel Grant,2004, 2003 Nick S. and Sharon G. George Grant, 2003: to conduct research on gender theories. Office of Research Undergraduate Travel Grant, 2002 Honors Scholar Program Research Grant, 2002:to conduct thesis research in West Africa.
CIVIC LEADERSHIP
Chapter Advisor,Delta Alpha Phi, Honors Society for Students with Disabilities, 2009 - present. Member,Justice for Students for Disabilities, 2009 - present. President, Engaging Abilities at UM, 2008 - present. Campaign Educator, “Learn the Signs, Act Early” CDC autism awareness campaign, 2005 – 2006. ASD Intervention Consultant, guided an economically disadvantaged family in establishing a home intervention program for their toddler with autism, 2004-2005. Campus Organizer, Students for Social Change, 2001-2004. Vice-President, Psi Chi, psychology honors society. University of Michigan-Flint Chapter, 2001-2002. Social Mentor, Project Zero One Three to encourage an alcohol-free transition to college life, 2001. Monitoring Aid, Flint River Watershed Coalition’s Stream Monitoring and Training, 2001 – 2002. Creator & Organizer, Kids CCAN Garden program at the state-funded Consortium for Child Abuse and Neglect through the True Blue Service Scholar program at the University of Michigan – Flint, 2001. Community Organizing Coordinator, College Democrats, 2000.
Outreach Facilitator to Michigan Chapter of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL), College Democrats. Lectures & Educational Events Chair, Campus Programming Board, 1999-2000.
LGBT COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Founding Member, Outbreak, UM School of Public Health LGBTQA organization, 2007 - present. Developing materials to facilitate inclusion of LGBT content in the SPH curriculum, 2009. Grant Preparer, Queer Studies Collective, UM interdisciplinary LGBT studies organization, 2007. President, Anthropology Student Organization, 2002-2004.
Co-organized and obtained funding for a student trip to the National Gender Public Advocacy Coalition Training, 2003. Discussion Group Leader, LGBT Center, University of Michigan - Flint, 2002 – 2004. Interviewer, University of Michigan Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Visibility Study, 2000.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Anthropological Association, since 2002
American Psychological Association, 2003-2006
International Society of Autism Research, since 2004
Psi Chi (Psychology Honors Society), since 2000
