The Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center (PRC) is pleased to announce that Sarah Chilenski has been promoted to Research Professor of Health and Human Development effective July 1, 2024.

Chilenski is a leading expert in dissemination and implementation of evidence-based prevention programs, maximizing the impact of community prevention coalitions and providing them with sustainable, high-quality technical assistance. She is passionate about promoting strong community collaboration to promote healthy youth development, and she has led major research projects in urban and rural communities across the U.S.

Dr. Chilenski is a recognized expert and leader in the field of prevention science, and we are deeply honored to call her our colleague.

– PRC Director Max Crowley

As Associate Research Professor at the PRC, Chilenski secured over $10M in external funds as principal investigator or co-Investigator from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Further, Chilenski has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles, 3 policy reports, one book chapter, numerous project evaluation reports, and given and chaired or participated in many roundtable discussions, panels, presentations, and symposia at professional meetings. She has served as a regular reviewer for top-tier peer review journals and is on several external committees.

“Dr. Chilenski’s work has had an incredibly meaningful impact on understanding of how prevention promotes the well-being of children and families” said PRC Director Max Crowley. “Dr. Chilenski is a recognized expert and leader in the field of prevention science, and we are deeply honored to call her our colleague.”

In 2020, Chilenski co-led the creation of the PRC’s Group to Reduce Racial Inequities in Prevention Science, and she continues to co-lead the group, which has spearheaded important initiatives, including funding for early career researchers seeking to improve health equity, as well as an annual lecture on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and regular roundtable discussions on anti-racism in prevention in research and higher education.

Dr. Chilenski has also contributed substantially to the field of prevention science through her participation in the Society for Prevention Research (SPR). Over the years, she has regularly contributed to SPR committees and reviewed abstracts for the society’s annual meeting. Notably, she co-led SPR’s Training Needs Assessment Task Force to assess training needs for early-, mid-, and senior level researchers. The task force’s analysis was published in the journal Prevention Science and used by prevention programs around the country to set curriculum for their students. In 2021, her efforts were recognized by SPR with the Service to SPR award.

Chilenski is also training the next generation of prevention scientists, who are joining her in improving health and well-being through studying and building prevention infrastructure in local communities.