Dr. Eugenia Millender is an associate professor, co-founder, and co-director of the Center of Population Sciences for Health Equity. As an indigenous Afro-Latina nurse scientist, she has dedicated her career to increasing access to mental health equity and providing culturally appropriate care. Dr. Millender's research focuses on investigating ways to reduce mental health disparities among indigenous and vulnerable populations that result from stress and trauma. She works with community-based organizations and employs her expertise in mood disorders, stress, trauma, and how these are expressed through gene-environment interaction.

EDUCATION

PhD, Florida Atlantic University
MS, Florida Atlantic University
BSN, Florida Atlantic University
AA, College of Lake County

HONORS/AWARDS

FSU Faculty Latinx Distinguished Service Awards, 2021   

Selected as Fellow of the FSU inaugural Faculty Program with the Office of The Vice-President of Research, 2021   

Induced as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), 2021 

Distinguished Graduate Award, Florida Atlantic University, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, 2018   

Community Leadership Award for Decreasing Health Disparities among Vulnerable Populations Presented by The Northwest Community Consortium, Inc., West Palm Beach, FL, 2016   

Ending Homelessness Award, The Lord's Place Annual Breakfast – Out of the Shadows, Presented by The Lord's Place Homeless Inc., West Palm Beach, FL, 2015   

Hispanic Women of Distinction, 14th Annual Awards Luncheon – Excellence in Community Service, Presented by Bank of America and Latina Style Magazine, 2015   

Association of Black Nursing Faculty, Inc., 28th Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference, 2015   

Excellence in Community Service and Engagement Award Palm Beach County Alumni Chapter Bethune

Cookman University, 11th Annual HBCU Scholarship Luncheon - Honoree, 2015  

National Coalition of 100 Black Women – West Palm Beach Chapter, 2015

HERStory Award Honoree, 2015   

Selected one of the Most Powerful and Influential Black Professionals in Business and Industry for 2013 by Legacy Palm Beach, Palm Beach Post, 2013   

Heroes in Medicine, Health Care Provider Hero Category Finalist, Palm Beach County Medical Society, 2013   

Women of Excellence Award Winner, Health and Wellness Category, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, West Palm Beach Alumnae Chapter, 2013   

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

Quintero Garzola, G. & Millender, E. (Submitted November 2021). Review of the prevalence, risks factors, and treatment-related variables associated with sports betting across different populations. International Gambling Studies.

Joiner, T., Daurio, A., Keel, P., Mehra,L., Millender, E., Robertson, L., & Morgan Robison. (Submitted January 2022). Ethnoracial Status, Intersectionality with Gender, and Psychotherapy Utilization, Retention, and Outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

Lowe, J., Millender, E., & Best, O. (Submitted January 2022). Talking Circle for Young Adults (TC4YA) Intervention: A Culturally Safe Research Exemplar. Contemporary Nurse.

Millender, E., Harris, R.M., Bagneris, J.R., Mark, L.R., Barcelona, V., Wong, F.Y., Crusto, C.A., & Taylor, J.Y. (Submitted 9.2021). The Cumulative Influence of Perceived Discrimination, Stress, and Coping Responses on Symptoms of Depression Among Young African American Mothers. JAPNA.

Millender, E., Dickey, S., Ouma, C., Bruneau, D., Wisdom-Chambers, K., Harris, R.M., & Bagneris, J.R. (2021). Addressing Disparities by Evaluating Depression as a Predictor of Prostate Screenings Among Black Men in a Community Health Clinic. Journal of Community Health Nursing. 39 (1).

*Wimbish-Cirilo, R., Lowe, J., & Millender, E. (2020). The impact of a substance use intervention among urban Native American youth. Genealogy, 4(3), 79.

*Millender, E., Barile, J. P., Barneris, J., Harris, R. M., De Faria, L., Wong, F., Crusto, C. A., & Taylor, J. (2020). Associations between social determinants of health, perceived discrimination, and body mass index on symptoms of depression among young African American mothers. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 35(1), 95–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.09.014" https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.09.014

FUNDED GRANTS

Lowe, J. Brooks, J & Millender, E. (2022-2024). “Using a School Wide System Talking Circle Intervention to Transform the Mental Health of Native American young adults. Hillman Foundation. Amount $600,000. Role: (MPI).

Wong, Naar & Reed (2021-2026). Fostering Institutional Resources for Science Transformation: The FLORIDA-FIRST Health-science Brigade(U54CA267730-01); amount: $14M, National Institutes of Health. Role: Co-Investigators (Millender, and Barile)

Millender, E. (Pilot Principal Investigator). (2020–2022). Impact of Sociocultural Determinants, depression, and anxiety risk on alcohol misuse and COVID-19 experiences among Native Americans living along the Eastern and Southern seaboard of the U.S. Washington State University, Native Center for Alcohol Research and Education (NCARE) pilot project program award number P60AA026112.

Millender, E. (Principal Investigator) (2020–2022). Impact of stress, depression, coping, and DNA methylation on blood pressure among African American women (Project No. 9089706292; L30-HL154217). National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute loan forgiveness program.

Joyce, J., & Muszynski. FSU U54 NIH Subcontract proposal entitled "Transforming and Translating Discovery to Improve Health" submitted by University of Florida. April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2024, amount $21 Million (funded). Role: Steering Advisory Committee Member

Millender, E. Indigenous HIV/AIDS and Mental Health Research Training program. Post-Doctoral Training. R25 program (under PAR-06-494; Award Number: R25MH084565), April 2018 – April 2020, amount: $20,000 (funded). Role: PI

Lowe, J., & Millender, E. The Talking Circle for Young Adults (TC4YA). Hillman Foundation. January 2019 – December 2019. Amount $150,000 (funded). Role: co-PI

Millender, E. Psychiatric Metal Health Nurse Practitioner Program. Quantum Foundation, 6/10/17 – 8/6/17; $199,160.00 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI

Millender, E. Increasing Access to Integrated Nurse-Led Primary and Behavioral Care. Farris Foundation; $600,000; 7/1/16-8/6/17 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI.

Millender, E. Utilizing Evidence-base programs to increase health equity for clients living with mental disorders. Quantum Foundation; $85,000; 7/1/16-6/30/17 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI

Millender, E. FAU Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing – Community Nurse Lead Care. Agency for Health Care Administration Divisions of Health Quality Assurance Community and Primary Care Services; $651,000; 7/1/16-6/30/17 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI.

Millender, E. Innovation in Access to Diabetes Care through Interprofessional Collaborative Practice. 7/1/14 – 6/30/17; $1,500,000 by Health Resources and Services Administration; (funded). Role: Program Director/PI

Millender, E. Increasing Access to Diabetes and Cardiovascular Care with Early Screening and Community Collaboration. Florida Department of Health Office of Minority Health; 7/1/14 – 8/6/17; $640,194 (funded). Role: Program Director/PI

Millender, E. FAU Community Health Center grant, 7/1/14-12/30/15; $205,000 by Quantum Foundation; (funded). Role: Program Director/PI