Department

Applied Health Science

Education

• Indiana University, Ph.D., 2006

• Wake Forest University, M.A., 2000

• Butler University, B.A., 1998

Background

• 2000-2018 Research Associate: Appointed to serve as the Project Manager and Lead Evaluator for the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University.
• Master Certified Health Education Specialist, National Commission for health Education Credentialing, Inc.
• 2016-2018    PI, Evaluation and Technical Assistance Contracts, Drug-Free Communities Support Program, $37,500
• Faculty (Non-Tenure Track), Indiana University-Bloomington, Department of Applied Health Science
• Appointed to serve as the Project Manager and Lead Evaluator for the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University.
• Provides coordination and oversight of evaluation services and technical assistance for substance abuse prevention grantees.
•  Supervises Field Evaluators and Technical Assistance Providers assigned to provide direct evaluation and technical assistance to communities throughout Indiana.
• American School Health Association, Board of Directors.
• Master Certified Health Education Specialist, National Commission for health Education Credentialing, Inc.
• Delbert Oberteuffer Scholar, American Association for Health Education, 2005.

Scholarly Interest

Evaluation of adolescent drug use prevention interventions.

Selected Publications

Articles

Alter, R.J., Jun, M.K., & McKyer, E.L. (2007). ATOD prevention programming in the non-school-hours and adolescent substance use. Journal of Drug Education, 37(4), 365-377.

Alter, R.J., Lohrmann, D.K, & Greene, R. (2006). Substitution of marijuana for alcohol: The role of perceived access and harm. Journal of Drug Education, 36(4), 335-356.

Alter, R. J. Building support for coordinated school health programs. The Health Educator, 3(1), 3-7.

Alter, R. J. Long-term impact of a district-wide school/community-based substance abuse prevention initiative on gateway drug use. Journal of Drug Education, 35(3), 233-253.

Alter, R. J. Compensation for inconsistencies: The effects of stereotype strength on expectations of applicants' job success and satisfaction. Sex Roles, 53(1-2), 79-87.

Presentations

Alter, R.J., Jones, A., & Jun, M. (2017).  Family risk factors for poor youth mental health outcomes and substance abuse. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American School Health Association, St. Louis, MO.

Alter, R.J., Jun, M., & Ginther, S. (2015).  Parental Incarceration and Youth Problem Behaviors.  Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American School Health Association, Orlando, FL.

Alter, R.J., Lay, M.A., and Brown, C.J. (2011).  Risk Factors for Adolescent Gambling Behaviors. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American School Health Association, Louisville, KY.

Alter, R.J., & Zaffuto, S.R. (2010). Evaluating environmental strategies using participatory evaluation approach and the coordinated school health model. Poster Presentation at the annual meeting of the American School Health Association, Kansas City, MO.

Alter, R.J., & French, M. (2008).  Helping rural communities develop critical infrastructure to support strategic planning around substance abuse prevention.  Poster Presentation at the annual meeting of the National Rural Health Association, New Orleans, LA.