Our faculty are driving change through
their research and leadership.

The future of social work and public health depends on leading evidence-based research; moving that research into practice; and preparing students to excel in their work. Brown School faculty excel in these pursuits, and the work they are doing is a vital for creating change.

Sean Joe

Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development
Associate Dean for Faculty and Research

“It’s important that black boys and young men have the opportunity to maximize their potential. My work focuses on one basic question: How do we create a collective impact strategy in St. Louis to increase the social mobility of 60,000 black males?”

View Profile

Enola Proctor

Shanti K. Khinduka Distinguished Professor

“Social workers are naturals for implementation science—we work in a field that engages medicine, psychology, business, engineering, public health and nursing. We understand the complexities of change at the community, organizational, provider and client levels, and we know how to bring people together to solve hard problems.”

View Profile

Rodrigo Reis

Professor

“How can we make cities a better place to live an active lifestyle? We have to be smarter in how we create them. People are waiting for the government to provide the magic bullet, but while policymakers are important, the community is vital, too.”

View Profile

Peg Allen
Research Assistant Professor
Evidence-based public health
Chronic disease prevention
Public health workforce development
Dissemination research

Wendy Auslander
Barbara A. Bailey Professor of Social Work
Health behavior and health promotion
Childhood abuse and adolescent risk behaviors
Trauma treatment
Diabetes and HIV prevention
Intervention research methods

Abigail Barker
Research Assistant Professor
Economic modeling
Health insurance markets
Rural health policy
Medicaid

Ana Baumann — Ana A Baumann
Research Assistant Professor
Dissemination and implementation research
Adaptation of evidence-based interventions and implementation strategies
Mental health service delivery
Parent training

Derek Brown
Associate Professor
Health economics
Medicaid
Child abuse and neglect
Stated preference methods & health-related quality of life

Ross Brownson
Bernard Becker Professor
Chronic disease prevention through environmental and policy change
Evidence-based public health
Dissemination and implementation research

Our 15 research centers enable us to dive deep into complex issues.

The Center for Diabetes Translation Research (WU-CDTR) aims to eliminate disparities by fostering research collaborations, catalyzing new ideas, and assisting investigators in conducting T3 (translating clinical findings into everyday practice in real world settings) and T4 research (testing and implementing solutions at a community or population level) among populations at risk for diabetes and obesity.

The center supports studies on the root causes of diabetes and disparities and on the prevention of obesity. The WU-CDTR is a collaboration between the Brown School and the Washington University School of Medicine and includes partnerships with the African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network, the National Congress of American Indians, and the University of Missouri.

Visit the WU-CDTR websiteCenter for Diabetes Translation Research

The Center for Mental Health Services Research (CMHSR), through its national network of research partners, works with social service and mental health agencies to build a base of evidence to address the challenges of delivering mental health services to vulnerable populations. CMHSR was the nation’s first Social Work Research Development Center, and is home to two NIMH-funded training programs.

Visit the CMHSR websiteCenter for Mental Health Services Research

The Center for Obesity Prevention and Policy Research (COPPR) develops and disseminates new knowledge to inform the creation and implementation of programs and policies designed to prevent obesity. In addition to conducting research, COPPR works with national and state policymakers to ensure the development of evidence-based obesity policy.

Visit the COPPR websiteCenter for Obesity Prevention and Policy Research

The Center for Public Health Systems Science (CPHSS) works to create sustainable solutions to public health problems. Through innovative research and evaluation, their work creates a better understanding of how policies and organizational systems affect key issues in public health, such as tobacco control and chronic disease prevention.

Visit the CPHSS websiteCenter For Public Health Systems Science

The Center for Social Development (CSD) undertakes domestic and international research testing social innovations and uses evidence to inform policy and practice. The center is well known for innovations in asset building for family security and development. Many other initiatives are underway in the following areas: Financial Inclusion; Civic Engagement and Service; Thriving Communities; Child and Youth Development; Social Justice, Environment and Social Development; and Race, Inequality and Social Mobility.

Visit the CSD WebsiteCenter for Social Development

The Center for Violence and Injury Prevention (CVIP) promotes healthy young families and healthy young adults by advancing evidence-based, real-world strategies to prevent child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, sexual violence and suicide attempts. CVIP is the only center of its kind to be housed in a school of social work.

Visit the CVIP WebsiteCenter for Violence and Injury Prevention

The Envolve Center for Health Behavior Change is an innovative industry-academic collaboration between the Brown School, Duke University and Centene Corporation, a leading Fortune 500 managed care company. The center focuses efforts on translating evidence-based healthcare methods into real-world settings to actively improve the lives and health of vulnerable populations.

Visit the Envolve Center WebsiteEnvolve Center for Health Behavior Change

The Evaluation Center is committed to helping organizations understand their work and why it matters. The center specializes in client-driven evaluation and training for non-profit organizations, funders, universities and government agencies, to help determine whether organizational goals and program outcomes are being achieved.

Visit the Evaluation Center PageEvaluation Center

The Health Communication Research Laboratory (HCRL) is one of the leading centers in the U.S. dedicated to the research, development and dissemination of health communication programs that enhance the health of individuals and populations. The HCRL seeks to eliminate health disparities by increasing the reach and effectiveness of health information to low-income and minority populations.

Visit the HCRL WebsiteHealth Communication Research Laboratory

The Institute for Advancing Justice Research and Innovation aims to advance science, policy and practice to improve the well-being of individuals and families impacted by involvement in the criminal justice system. Advancing Justice is dedicated to accelerating the feedback loop between research and practice in order to reduce high incarceration rates.

Visit the Advancing Justice WebsiteInstitute for Advancing Justice Research and Innovation

The International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD)’s mission is to contribute to the reduction of poverty and the improvement of health and overall developmental outcomes for youth and families in low-resource communities, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa.

The center conducts rigorous applied research focused on family-level economic strengthening and empowerment interventions that tackle the interactive effects of poverty, disease, and health-related risk factors for youth. ICHAD also seeks to increase public awareness and support for asset-based social programs, as well as to promote research-driven policy and programming.

Visit the ICHAD WebsiteInternational Center for Child Health and Development

The Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies promotes preparation of professionals to assume leadership positions in social services and governmental institutions dedicated to improving the lives of American Indians.

Visit the Buder Center WebsiteKathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies

The Prevention Research Center in St. Louis (PRC-StL) explores behaviors that place Americans at risk for chronic diseases such as obesity, cancer and diabetes. Center researchers conduct and share research on physical activity, policy, the built environment, and the translation of evidence into public health practice, while placing particular emphasis on vulnerable populations. The PRC-STL is a joint effort between Washington University and Saint Louis University.

Visit the PRC-STL WebsitePrevention Research Center in St. Louis

The SMART Africa Center (Strengthening Mental Health and Research Training) is a transdisciplinary collaborative center aimed at reducing gaps in child mental health services and research in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda. Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the SMART Africa Center utilizes a population approach to child mental health.

The center brings together a consortium of academic, government, NGO and community stakeholders in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and the United States to focus on addressing the child mental health burden and service gaps in sub-Saharan Africa, including implementation and scale-up of evidence-based practices.

Visit the Smart Africa Center WebsiteSmart Africa Center

The Social System Design Lab (SSDL) advances the science and application of system dynamics in organizations and communities. The SSDL specializes in developing participatory methods and workshops for engaging communities and organizations to design innovative solutions in complex social systems using causal maps and formal models with computer simulation.

Visit the SSDL WebsiteSocial System Design Lab

Shanti K. Khinduka and Michal Grinstein-Weiss — Grinstein-Weiss Named Shanti K. Khinduka Distinguished Professor
Read This Story

“I’m First” Supports First-Generation Graduate Students
Read This Story

Landscape photo of Hillman and Brown Hall — Researchers Share Toolkit, Experience to Help Build Healthy Spaces
Read This Story

Brown Page Content 2
"We are in the unique position of having the talent and resources to address immense health disparities, income inequality, and structural racism. By working collaboratively, we can and will improve lives and move towards a more just and equitable world."

—Mary M. McKay,
Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean

Our faculty lead diverse research that engages students and makes an impact.

It’s your chance to make a difference.

Join Our Faculty

Our faculty are driving change through
their research and leadership.

Sean Joe

Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development
Associate Dean for Faculty and Research

Enola Proctor

Shanti K. Khinduka Distinguished Professor

Rodrigo Reis

Professor

Browse Our Faculty

Peg Allen

Research Assistant Professor

Wendy Auslander

Barbara A. Bailey Professor of Social Work

Abigail Barker

Research Assistant Professor

Ana A Baumann

Research Assistant Professor

Derek Brown

Associate Professor

Ross Brownson

Bernard Becker Professor

Our 15 research centers enable us to dive deep into complex issues.

Grinstein-Weiss Named Shanti K. Khinduka Distinguished Professor

“I’m First” Supports First-Generation Graduate Students

Researchers Share Toolkit, Experience to Help Build Healthy Spaces

Our faculty lead diverse research that engages students and makes an impact.

30+

$14.5m

65

Mobile Image Above (Portrait)

Full Size Image Below (Landscape)

It’s your chance to make a difference.

Our faculty are driving change through their research and leadership.

Sean Joe

Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social DevelopmentAssociate Dean for Faculty and Research

Enola Proctor

Shanti K. Khinduka Distinguished Professor

Rodrigo Reis

Professor

Browse Our Faculty

Peg Allen

Research Assistant Professor

Wendy Auslander

Barbara A. Bailey Professor of Social Work

Abigail Barker

Research Assistant Professor

Ana A Baumann

Research Assistant Professor

Derek Brown

Associate Professor

Ross Brownson

Bernard Becker Professor

Our 15 research centers enable us to dive deep into complex issues.

Grinstein-Weiss Named Shanti K. Khinduka Distinguished Professor

“I’m First” Supports First-Generation Graduate Students

Researchers Share Toolkit, Experience to Help Build Healthy Spaces

Our faculty lead diverse research that engages students and makes an impact.

30+

$14.5m

65

Mobile Image Above (Portrait)Full Size Image Below (Landscape)

It’s your chance to make a difference.

Our faculty are driving change through
their research and leadership.

Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development
Associate Dean for Faculty and Research

Mobile Image Above (Portrait)

Full Size Image Below (Landscape)