Dr. Conte is an Assistant Professor in the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, where she teaches and mentors students in the MPH Health Management and Policy and Health Systems and Policy PhD programs. She holds a PhD in Public Health from Oregon State University and an MA in Bioethics and Medical Humanities from the University of Louisville. Prior to joining Portland State University, she held academic positions at DePaul University and the University of Sydney in Australia. She is also a Senior Research Fellow with the Homeless Research and Action Collaborative at Portland State.
Her work sits at the intersection of research, policy, and community. Dr. Conte’s research centers on the co-production of health policy—examining how policymakers, researchers, and community members work together to shape more responsive and effective systems. She currently leads the Pathways to Housing study with the Homelessness Action and Research Collaborative, partnering with people who have lived experience of homelessness to better understand what supports people in navigating homelessness in Multnomah County, Oregon. She has ongoing collaboration with colleagues in Australia on initiatives that advance Indigenous sovereignty and support thriving, community-led health systems.
Beyond her research, Dr. Conte is actively engaged in student mentorship and community service. She serves as faculty supervisor for the Public Health Health Improvement Student Group, serves on the Board of Directors for the Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic—a free, student-run clinic serving people experiencing homelessness in Portland—and is an editor for the International Journal on Homelessness.