Early Career Contributions to Diversity Science Award: Henry A. Willis, PhD

Early Career Contributions to Diversity Science Award: Henry A. Willis, PhD

The SCCAP Early Career Contributions to Diversity Science Award recognizes an early career psychologist who has established a program of empirical research that has made major scientific and/or public impact on the field’s understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We are thrilled to announce that Henry A. Willis, PhD, is the recipient of the 2026 SCCAP Early Career Contributions to Diversity Science Award.

Dr. Willis is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology Program within the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he directs the Cultural Resilience, Equity, and Technology (CREATE) Lab. Dr. Willis has dedicated his research career to understanding and addressing the mental health needs of Black youth and other youth of color.

Dr. Willis has made significant scientific contributions to understanding how racism-related stressors, particularly in online and digital spaces, shape and influence the mental health and development of Black youth and other youth of color. His work has advanced the field’s understanding of online racism as a social determinant of mental health, while also identifying culturally grounded protective factors that promote resilience. Importantly, he has translated these findings into innovative digital interventions designed in partnership with the communities they serve. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and community-engaged research, Dr. Willis has developed scalable, culturally responsive solutions that address longstanding disparities in access to mental health care.

Although Dr. Willis is early in his career, his research has already been recognized and funded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and other similar agencies. In addition to his scholarly contributions, he his research has helped to inform public policy through advocacy and legislative testimony. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Willis also provides community-based mental health services to diverse communities.

Dr. Willis’s work exemplifies the transformative impact that diversity science can have on research, practice, and public policy. As part of this award, Dr. Willis received a $5,000 honorarium. Please join us in recognizing Dr. Willis as the 2026 Early Career Contributions to Diversity Science Award recipient!