Cynthia G. Ayres

Dr. Cynthia Ayres investigates health promotion and disease prevention activities in children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as health disparities among diverse populations. Dr. Ayres, who holds over 20 years of experience teaching in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Nursing Practice Applications & Reviews of Nursing Research, an international and peer-reviewed academic journal. In addition, she is an editorial board member of the Journal of Interprofessional Healthcare, the peer-reviewed journal of the National Academies of Practice. She serves on peer review panels for the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, the American Journal of Managed Care, and the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, among others. She has published in numerous scholarly journals and has presented at national and international nursing and interdisciplinary research conferences, such as Sigma Theta Tau International, International Council for Nurses, and the American Public Health Association.

Dr. Ayres was a Fellow in the AACN Leadership for Academic Nursing Program (LANP) and has been a Distinguished Fellow in the National Academies of Practice since 2007. She has been a Research Fellow at Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences (RBHS), School of Nursing, Center for Urban Youth and Families since 2013 and was both a Digital Teaching Fellow and Civic Engagement Fellow at Rutgers University-Camden. Additionally, she served on several state advisory committees for the NJ Commission on Cancer, including the Nursing Advisory Committee.

Dr. Ayres teaches Research in Nursing in the undergraduate program and Scholarly Seminar III in the doctoral program. Dr. Ayres is a tenured Associate Professor at Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden. She earned her PhD, MS, and BS from Rutgers University College of Nursing in Newark, New Jersey.

PhD: Rutgers University—Newark Graduate School, 2002

MS (Nursing): Rutgers University—Newark Graduate School, 1996

BS (Nursing): Rutgers University—Newark College of Nursing, 1994

Health promotion

Disease prevention

Child and adolescent health

Emerging young adults

Health disparities

Subtance use

Adolescent opioid use

Health responsibility

Pontes, N. M., Ayres, C. G., and Pontes, M. C. F.  (2018). Additive Interactions Between Gender and Bullying Victimization on Depressive Symptoms and Suicidality: Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2011–2015. Nursing Research, 67(6), 430-438. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000310

Pontes, N.M., Ayres, C., Lewandowski, C., Pontes, C.F. (2018). Trends in bullying victimization by gender among U.S. high school students. Research in Nursing and Health, doi.org/10.1002/nur.21868.

Ayres, C., & Pontes, N. (2017). Use of theory to examine health responsibility in urban adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Nursing: Nursing Care of Children and Families, 38, 40-45.

Ayres, C., Pontes, N.M., & Pontes, C.F. (2016). Understanding the Nonmedical Use of Prescription Medications in the U.S. High School Adolescents. The Journal of School Nursing, 33(4), 269-276. doi: 10.1177/1059840516677322

Ayres, C., Pontes, N.M., & Pontes, C.F. (2016). Factors related to substance use among U.S. high school adolescents. Journal of Nursing Practice Applications and Reviews of Nursing Research, 7(1), 46-55. doi: 10.13178/jnparr.2017.0701.0706

Ayres, C., Jurado, L.F., Norris, S., & Mahat, G. (2016). An investigation of the relationships between acculturation and specific health practices in Asian Americans. Journal of Nursing Practice Applications and Reviews of Nursing Research, 6(1), 4-9. doi: 10.13178/jnparr.2016.0601.0216

Norris, S. & Ayres, C. (2015). Factors influencing the health promoting physical activity behaviors of diverse urban adolescents. Journal of Nursing Practice Applications and Reviews of Nursing Research, 6(1), 16-23. doi: 10.13178/jnparr.2016.0601.0316

Mahat, G., Scoloveno, M., & Ayres, C. (2014). Comparison of adolescents’ HIV/AIDS knowledge and self-efficacy across two cultures. Journal of Cultural Diversity: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 21(4), 152-158.

Norris, S. & Ayres, C. (2014). Health beliefs and practices among urban adolescents: A pilot study. Journal of Nursing Practice Applications & Reviews of Nursing Research, 4(1), 68-76.

Mahat, G., Scoloveno, M., & Ayres, C. (2013). Impact of HIV/AID peer education program on peer educators. Journal of Nursing Practice Applications & Reviews of Nursing Research, 3(2), 61-72.

Ayres, C., & Mahat, G., & Atkins, R. (2013). Testing theoretical relationships: Factors influencing

positive health practices in Filipino adolescents. Journal of American College Health, 61(2), 88-94.

Ayres, C., Mahat, G., Atkins, R., & Norris, S. (2013). Social support as a mediator of the relationship between self-esteem and positive health practices: Implications for practice. Journal of Nursing Practice Applications & Reviews of Nursing Research, 3(1), 15-21.

Atkins, R., Sulik, M., Hart, D., Ayres, C., & Read, N. (2012). The effects of school poverty on adolescents’ sexual health knowledge. Research in Nursing and Health, 35, 231-241.

Ayres, C., Mahat, G. (2012). Social support, acculturation and optimism: Understanding positive health practices in Asian Adolescents, Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 23(3), 270-278.

Ayres, C. (2013). Clinical preventive services delivery in nursing. In J.J. Fitzpatrick & M. Wallace (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Nursing Research (3rd ed). New York: Springer Publishing Company.

• Academic Year 2017–2018
  Project Title: Opioid Use of Adolescents
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Funding Source: Rutgers Committee of Institutional Equity and Diversity

• 2018–present
  Grant Title: STrengthen Opioid Prevention Project (STOPP): Understanding Opioid Use and Initial Step to Recovery
  Funding Source: Sigma Theta Tau Research Grant
  Role: Principal Investigator

Fellowships

• 2007–present - Fellow, National Academies of Practice (NAP), Nursing Academy

• 2014–present - Research Faculty Fellow & Center Member, Center for Urban Youth and Families (CUYF), School of Nursing (RBHS)

• 2014 - Fellow, Leadership in Academic Nursing Program (LANP), American Association of Colleges of Nursing

• 2014 - Digital Teaching Fellow, Rutgers University - Camden

• 2013 - Faculty Civic Engagement Fellow, Rutgers University - Camden

Professional Awards and Honors

• Invited Plenary Speaker, Philippine Nurses Association of America, 39th Annual PNAA National Convention, Jersey City, NJ

• 2016 - Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence, Rutgers University - Camden

• 2015 - Recognition from Sigma Theta Tau, Eta Mu Chapter, Rutgers School of Nursing - Camden

Editorial Activities

• Starting July 2018 - Appointed Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Nursing Practice Applications & Reviews of Nursing Research (official international peer-reviewed journal of the PNAA)

• 2016–2018 - Associate Editor, Journal of Nursing Practice Applications & Reviews of Nursing Research

• Registered Nurse, State of New Jersey

• American Association of Critical Care Nurses
• National Academies of Practice
• Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS)
• Philippine Nurses Association of America
• Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey
• New Jersey Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan (NJCCP), Evaluation Committee Member
• Sigma Theta Tau International, Eta Mu Chapter