Laneshia Conner
Assistant Professor
Areas of Expertise
- SW 460 Psychopathology
- SW 865 Foundational Theory
- SW 450 Social Work Research Methods
- SW 781 Theory
- SW 580 Horror Films and Social Welfare
Highlighted Publications
- Conner, L., Engstrom, M., *Junious, E., & ^Edwards, K. (2018). Woman to woman (W2W): Adapting an HIV risk reduction intervention for older women. The Journal of Women & Aging, 30(5).
- Conner, L., *Fernández, Y., *Junious, E., Piper, C., & Rowan, D. (2019). Evaluating HIV educational materials for older adults. Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, 18, 1-10.
- Conner, L., Adatorwovor, R., Robbins, S.K., *Machinga-Asaolu, R., Showalter, K., & Oser, C. (2024). Geographic patterns of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) risk behaviors among older adults: A strategy for identifying space as a risk exposure. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 44(2).
Current Projects
- https://socialwork.uky.edu/social-work-researcher-secures-grant-to-advance-community-health-for-older-adults/?fbclid=Iwb21leANIKfpjbGNrA0gppWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeM9nlilv99OPfHHaJuqO3j3DiZVYR2O1ic05rwcXQn26nrO1syhdHP4lHwTI_aem_uDq7HSrBsrDre3hhde8ONA
- https://socialwork.uky.edu/social-work-faculty-researcher-develops-sex-education-models-for-older-adults/
-
Conner, L. (2026, March 14). Make. Change. Visible. 2026 TEDxFaurotPark.
https://youtu.be/TK6pDcVxVQs?si=fh-U8ROaAkXCY7Q8
Student & Research Availability
- Accepting Students in Programs: Doctoral
- Available Student Positions: Independent Study
- Research or Interest Area Key Words: HIV prevention, older adults, reproductive health justice, menstrual health management within sports
Alma Mater
UK, UGA, and U of L
Get to Know Laneshia
As an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Kentucky (UK), my research focuses on
reducing HIV health disparity among older adults, with an emphasis on older Black women. The impetus
for my research interest at the intersection of aging, HIV risk, and minoritized groups occurred while
employed as a social work clinician. As a community-based practitioner in Atlanta, GA, I noticed that were
no interventions and programs targeting persons aged 50 and older, even though I regularly saw clients
who were either living with HIV or participating in high-risk behaviors. To address this gap, I completed my
first funded research project that modified an evidence-based HIV prevention program for older women
and piloted that program in the local community. Also, I received funding as a trainee (Beckwith-PI; R25
DA037190) and began examining drug use patterns among older adults and justice-involved persons
aged 50 and older. Since joining the UK faculty in 2020, I was selected for a competitive campus-wide,
faculty research development program, Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health
(BIRCWH; NIDA K12 DA035150, 2021-2023) and was also funded through an Administrative Supplement
opportunity (PA-20-272) released by NIH in 2022 and 2024 to join BIRCWH as a Scholar and to receive
one additional year of support to develop my publications and pursue grant funding (BIRCWH; NIDA
3K12DA035150-13S1, 2024-2025). In the fall of 2025, I was awarded a 5- year Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (1K01AG092253-01A1) through the National Institute on Aging.