By Jaelon Jackson
School of Social Work
PhD student, Jessica Cassidy
In April, a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work successfully defended her dissertation.
Jessica Cassidy defended her dissertation titled “Developing the Rural Older Adult Dementia-prevention Health Behaviors (ROAD-HB) Questionnaire: A Mixed Methods Approach to Instrument Development.”
Her research was inspired by her late grandmother’s struggle with dementia while living in a rural community in Northeast Texas. Cassidy’s firsthand experience with the gaps in care and support systems ultimately led her to focus on dementia prevention in rural settings, where older adults are disproportionately affected.
“It was an incredibly helpless feeling watching her needlessly suffer,” Cassidy said. “That experience made me wonder how this could be avoided for other families.”
Cassidy’s dissertation introduces the ROAD-HB, a new tool designed to support community-led dementia prevention efforts. The questionnaire measures health behaviors relevant to dementia prevention and can be used by both academic researchers and lay community members. By creating a culturally relevant, theory-informed instrument, Cassidy aims to help rural communities gather data, evaluate programs and secure grant funding to implement evidence-based interventions.
“Older adults are densely populated in rural areas,” Cassidy said. “We don’t have the luxury of time to wait for policy shifts—prevention is something we can do now.”
Her committee chair, Dr. Kathy Siepker, said Cassidy’s work stood out for the way it combined academic rigor with personal passion. Siepker praised the innovative design of the ROAD-HB and noted Cassidy’s long-standing commitment to health equity.
“What excited me most was how Jessica connected her family’s experience to a tool that could make real change,” Siepker said. “She’s methodologically sharp and deeply thoughtful. She’s already co-authored nearly 20 peer-reviewed articles, and her dissertation shows her readiness to lead impactful research.”
Siepker also noted Cassidy’s growth throughout the program, from her early days as a graduate research assistant to now, as an independent scholar. “Watching her develop confidence in her voice, apply complex methods, and elevate community perspectives has been a true privilege.”
During her dissertation defense, Cassidy demonstrated deep command of her mixed methods of design, clearly articulating her rationale and revisions to ensure the ROAD-HB’s cultural relevance. She emphasized the importance of addressing rural health disparities now, before more families are left without resources.
“I hope my work sheds light on the risks rural communities face and helps get prevention efforts off the ground,” Cassidy said. “There’s a real opportunity to change outcomes if we act now.”
Cassidy’s successful defense marks a major milestone in her career and adds to the School of Social Work’s commitment to producing scholars dedicated to health equity and social justice.
Following graduation, Cassidy plans to continue testing the ROAD-HB and launch a dementia prevention intervention in Northeast Texas. She also intends to publish her dissertation findings in a peer-reviewed journal and expand her work through ongoing community partnerships.
“This is just the beginning,” she said. “I want to keep working alongside communities to create solutions that are both practical and powerful.”
