An Associate Professor and employment consultant. Dr. Gao has provided employment-related training, consultation, and technical assistance to numerous mental health agencies and Veterans Centers in a number of states. Before joining Rutgers, she had 15 years of clinical and managerial experience in community mental health agencies serving individuals with SMI, including Family Service of Burlington County and Steininger Behavioral Health Care. She also conducts research in the area of vocational rehabilitation and has published more than 20 articles.