Dr. Lisa Dierker
-
PhD (University of Connecticut, USA)
-
Psychology (PSY)
Courses
Lisa Dierker is the Walter Crowell University Professor of Social Sciences and Professor of Psychology at Wesleyan University. Trained in both developmental psychology and chronic disease epidemiology, her research has focused on understanding mental health and addictive behaviors across development, with particular attention to how scientific evidence can inform real-world decisions in clinical practice and public policy. Her scholarly work includes more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and over $5 million in external funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. As an educator, Professor Dierker is known for designing innovative, project-based courses that invite students to actively engage with evidence rather than simply consume it. Her teaching emphasizes how data are generated, interpreted, and used to make decisions that affect individuals, institutions, and communities. She is deeply committed to inclusive pedagogy and to creating classroom environments that welcome students with diverse academic backgrounds and interests. At College Year in Athens, Professor Dierker looks forward to working with students as they explore mental health through an evidence-centered, inquiry-driven lens, using psychological science to better understand complex social issues and the policy decisions that shape lives locally and globally.