Broadly, her research focuses on how cultural and psychosocial factors influence health in older adulthood. She also continues to conduct research on caregiving and mental health among American Indian and African American elders. Dr. Spencer is the Principal Investigator of the “Youth Empowered Against HIV!” Project and a partner in the “Equalize Health” LGBT cultural competence training program for health care providers. Dr. Spencer serves on the Lt. Governor's Alzheimer’s Resource Coordination Center and on the Minority Task Force of the Gerontological Society of America.