A primary area of focus for Tawara Goode, M.A., is national-level efforts to advance and sustain cultural and linguistic competence as evidence-based practices to decrease disparities and advance equity in an array of settings, including but not limited to institutions of higher education, health, mental health, disability and other human service systems. She continues to conduct research on cultural and linguistic competence and its role in reducing health and healthcare disparities. She is acknowledged as a thought leader in the area of cultural and linguistic competence and for building the National Center for Cultural Competence into a nationally and internationally recognized and award-winning program.