People

Cinthya Fillips

Assistant Research Scientist 
(979) 317-2505
[email protected]

Cinthya Fillips is a dedicated leader and researcher at the intersection of traffic safety, public health, and criminal justice. As Director of the Center for Alcohol and Drug Education Studies (CADES) at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), she spearheads initiatives aimed at reducing impaired driving and fostering long-term behavioral change among justice-involved individuals.

With expertise in traffic safety, criminal desistance, behavioral health, and evidence-based interventions, Cinthya develops and implements programs to enhance the effectiveness of justice professionals in addressing mental health and substance use disorders. Her work includes creating specialized curricula for jailers, judges, prosecutors, and community supervision stakeholders, equipping them with the tools to improve screening, assessment, and referral practices for individuals with DWI offenses.

She currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator on the 24/7 Sobriety Monitoring Project and has led extensive training efforts to promote mental health literacy within the criminal justice system. Cinthya holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Public Administration from Texas A&M University, as well as a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health. As a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A), she integrates clinical insight with policy-driven research to drive impactful change in the traffic safety community and institutional settings.

Christine Adams

Assistant Research Scientist
(979) 317-2547
[email protected]

Christine Adams is an Assistant Research Scientist for CADES. Her primary role is serving as the Administrator for the Texas Impaired Driving Task Force, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). She received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Texas and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Prior to joining CADES, Ms. Adams served as the vice chairperson for the Northern Nevada DUI Task Force for seven years, where she was presented with the State Impaired Driving Abatement Award for her work on the strategic highway safety plan and her advocacy at the Nevada legislature.

Ms. Adams’ knowledge and experience include prevention of underage access to alcohol, server/seller compliance, building community partnerships, public education campaigns, effective marijuana strategies and victim services. She has spent 18 years working to reduce harm caused by substance use in communities and on roadways.

Cody E. Stewart

Associate Transportation Researcher
(979) 317-2506
[email protected]

Cody E. Stewart is an Associate Transportation Researcher at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Mr. Stewart has over 14 years of experience in risk management and traffic safety at the Institute. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Sam Houston State University and his Executive Master of Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University.

Mr. Stewart was included as a subject matter expert to provide testimony to the Impaired Driving Program Assessment team assembled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2022 State of Texas Impaired Driving Program Assessment for his work in alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures. His work on prescription drugged-impaired driving in Texas as a co-author has also been published in the Texas Public Health Journal.

Furthermore, Mr. Stewart’s current research includes serving as the Principal Investigator on TxDOT’s sole cannabis-specific traffic safety grant. He also serves as the Principal Investigator on an ignition interlock training and evaluation grant, as well as a motorcycle training, licensing, and analysis grant. Previously, Mr. Stewart’s work included a feasibility study of an all-offender driving while intoxicated tracking system for Texas, comprehensive motorcycle crash analyses, blood alcohol concentration reporting, and training and technical assistance with Texas’ Crash Reporting and Analysis for Safer Highways system.

Emmaline Shields

Associate Transportation Researcher
(979) 317-2898
[email protected]

Emmaline Shields joined TTI as a Graduate Student Worker in 2018 while earning her Master of Public Health from Texas A&M University. After graduating, she joined CADES as an Assistant Transportation Researcher in 2020. She provides support to projects related to ignition interlocks and DWI recidivism, marijuana-impaired driving, and pedestrian and bicycle safety. Primarily, she assists with coordinating the Texas Impaired Driving Task Force.

Ms. Shields’ current research interests include the safety impacts of micromobility devices, such as e-scooters and e-bikes.

Courtney Hrncir

Research Specialist I
(979) 317-2534
[email protected]

Courtney Hrncir joined the CADES team in July 2021 as a Research Specialist. She has aided in projects related to treatment and referral services for impaired drivers experiencing mental and/or substance use conditions, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reporting practices and more. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health from Texas A&M University.

Previously, Ms. Hrncir worked for Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station as a program specialist with the Engineering Professional Education team, where she was responsible for overseeing professional development course registrations, communication, management and more. She has experience in assessing community needs, program planning, implementation and evaluation, and technical and grant writing.

Crystal O’Rear

Research Specialist I
(979) 317-2539
[email protected]

 

Crystal O’Rear joined TTI as a Research Specialist for CADES in 2021. Prior to employment with TTI, she held a Master Peace Officer Certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and worked as a police officer. While in that position, her passion was impaired driving enforcement, and she was awarded the Mothers Against Drunk Driving award. Ms. O’Rear has a vast knowledge of the criminal justice system.