After serving as the Director of the Center for Health and Safety Culture at Montana State University for over seven years, Dr. Nicholas Ward left MSU June 30 for a new position in the private sector. In his time as the Director, Dr. Ward has helped the Center grow and prosper. We are thankful for his leadership and wish him the best in his new position.
Dr. Ward is leaving the Center for Health and Safety Culture in good hands. Kari Finley, Ph.D., and Jay Otto began duties as interim co-directors of the Center for Health and Safety Culture on July 1.
Kari is currently the Center’s Manager and a Research Scholar. She has been at the Center for Health and Safety Culture since 2015. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from Colorado State University, and a Doctorate in Human Services from Walden University. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her primary areas of research interest include behavior change and the influence of stigma on health and safety.
Jay is currently the Center’s Principal Scientist, leading the research effort for the Center. Jay has been at the Center since 2009. He holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His primary areas of research interest include how beliefs and systems influence behavior and the role of culture.
Both Kari and Jay are contributing authors in the book Traffic Safety Culture: Theory, Foundation, and Application and are published authors in multiple academic journals.
