Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity Webinar Series: 2024 James S. Jackson Memorial Award Ceremony and Lecture

Overview

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is pleased to announce that Anna Lau, Ph.D., has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 James S. Jackson Memorial Award. The NIMH James S. Jackson Memorial Award was established in 2021 to honor outstanding researchers who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in research, community engagement, and mentorship on minority mental health and mental health disparities. Join us on October 18 for the awards ceremony and Dr. Lau’s lecture. He will discuss his research program and professional career within the framework of mental health disparities and minority mental health.

About the winner

Dr. Lau is Professor of Psychology and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence in the Life Sciences. He is a faculty member of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. programs and directs the Culture and Race/Ethnicity (CARE) Laboratory in Youth Mental Health. Dr. Lau trains students in evidence-based treatments for youth and teaches courses on Asian American mental health and diversity psychology.

Racial inequalities in youth mental health are longstanding and persistent. Amid an ongoing youth mental health crisis, disparities in unmet needs are likely to widen. Dr. Lau’s work encompasses services research, translational and prevention research, and implementation science focused on the needs of minority youth and the systems that serve them. It is easy to document disparities in care and even identify their drivers. But the challenge of our times is to find solutions to promote equity. Together with her research team, collaborators, and community partners, Dr. Lau seeks to leverage and adapt evidence-based innovations to reduce youth mental health disparities in community settings, including schools.

Dr. Lau came to this work as a first-generation student and daughter of immigrants, who was fortunate to have pioneering mentors who invested in her. He is indebted to the late Dr. Stanley Sue, Dr. David Takeuchi, Dr. John Weisz, and Dr. John Landsverk for their invaluable support. Dr. Lau is now also recognized for her dedication to mentorship, and her former students are making their own brilliant impacts in building a more inclusive field.

Dr. Lau is the author of more than 180 publications and her research is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), from which she received the Method for Extending Research Over Time (MERIT) award in 2022. She is a member of the Asian American Psychological Association and received its Award for Distinguished Contributions to Research in 2017. Dr. Lau served as President of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology in 2022. The UCLA Academic Senate recently awarded her the Award for the Faculty of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for their professional commitment to diversity. . She is dedicated to inclusive excellence in higher education and has served on the University of California Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools.

About the Office of Workforce Disparities and Diversity Research Webinar Series

The Office for Workforce Diversity and Disparities Research webinar series is designed for researchers conducting or interested in conducting research on mental health disparities, women’s mental health, health Minority mental health and rural mental health.

Record

This webinar is free, but registration required .