Dr. Dodson researches ways that policy can facilitate healthy decision making around physical activity and obesity prevention. A current project aims to increase the dissemination of evidence-based interventions to control cancer, focusing on the uptake of effective environmental and policy interventions among state-level policymakers.

At the Brown School, she works primarily within the Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, a joint center between Washington University and Saint Louis University.

Dr. Dodson received her PhD and MPH from Saint Louis University School of Public Health, where she focused her studies on behavioral science and epidemiology. Prior to beginning her public health training, she pursued a graduate certificate in counseling and worked as an American Council on Exercise certified personal trainer.

She is also a member of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health.