Ryan P. Kilmer University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA

P. Kilmer is Professor of Psychology and Director of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Social Aspects of Health Initiative at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he has been on the faculty since receiving his PhD from the University of Rochester in 1999. A community and child clinical psychologist, his work has focused on children and families and (1) using evaluation to refine programs, improve service delivery, and guide system change and local policy; and (2) understanding factors influencing the development of children at risk for emotional, behavioral, and/or academic difficulties, particularly risk and resilience and youngsters’ adjustment to trauma.

Dr. Kilmer has partnered with diverse community stakeholders, directing or co-directing (with Jim Cook) projects that respond to community needs, functioning on collaborative teams, and mentoring early career professionals and students. His evaluation and applied research experience includes efforts funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Institute of Education Sciences and extends across areas and populations, including mental health, child welfare, education, public housing, early childhood, and integrated care. Across these efforts, many of them multi-year collaborations, he has sought to improve the services and supports provided to children and families, many of whom have traditionally been marginalized or underserved.

His broader professional involvements—including as President of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice—demonstrate his investment in social justice and child and family well-being. At UNC Charlotte, he has been honored for his teaching, training, and community engagement with the Bonnie E. Cone Early-Career Professorship in Teaching, the Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentoring Award, and the Provost’s Faculty Award for Community Engagement.