Dr. Nash has broad training in cancer epidemiology, cancer surveillance, and community-based participatory research. Dr. Nash’s research blends data science with community engagement to understand and address chronic disease disparities, primarily cancer disparities. Wherever possible, she strives to engage community members in the research process, and she favors a mixed-methods research approach.

Dr. Nash is currently engaged in research in the following areas: leveraging the cancer registry system to understand and address Indigenous and rural cancer disparities; understanding the role of modifiable risk and protective factors in chronic disease etiology; determining the impact of weight and weight stigma in shaping cancer treatment and treatment experiences; and, understanding how experiences of racism experienced by Black and African American Iowans shape engagement in cancer prevention and control behaviors.

In addition to her research, mentoring, and teaching duties, Dr. Nash is the Director of Research, Analytics, and Dissemination at the Iowa Cancer Registry and the Co-Lead of Community Outreach and Engagement at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.