Dr. Parra is a trained physical therapist from Bogota Colombia, with a Masters Degree in Public Health from Saint Louis University and a PhD in Social Work with a concentration in public health from Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her post-doctoral experience in Public Health nutrition at the University of Sao Paulo. She is a yoga teacher and a Mindfulness facilitator. Dr. Parra focuses her research on the promotion of health and wellness through community based programs for physical activity, nutrition, yoga, and mindfulness, geared towards marginalized, underrepresented, and oppressed minorities, particularly the Latinx immigrant population in the United States. She has significant experience mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds, and has a diverse background and training in non-traditional methodologies to assess physical activity and diets.