Staff Profile

Linda Hancock Ph.D. – Research Fellow

Linda Hancock is a Family Nurse Practitioner who has provided health care to students at Virginia Commonwealth University since 1987. Her work in clinic with college students has led her to develop numerous prevention education programs. Linda has done all the “S’s.” She started as the “Sex Lady.” She then worked in “Substance Abuse Prevention.” She is currently the “Smoking Cessation Guru” at VCU and directs several grant projects dealing with “Social Norms.”

Linda’s specialty is making science user friendly and fun. Her high energy and lively sense of humor have made her a popular national speaker. Her programs rely on the use of humor and understanding of how media images and norms have impacted health behavior. Linda has a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Maryland, a Masters in Community Health Nursing and a PhD in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Linda is the author of the “Tobacco Use Reduction Guide for Colleges and Universities.” Linda has written several book chapters and article pertaining to social norms and tobacco. In May 2003 she became the first national recipient for the Henry W. DeJong Award for Vision and Leadership in Collegiate Tobacco Use Reduction.