Amber Letcher

Amber Letcher is a Professor and SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Specialist at South Dakota State University (SDSU), affiliated with the School of Education, Counseling and Human Development. Her work focuses on adolescent development, social-emotional learning, substance use prevention, and rural wellness. She has led numerous grants totaling over $4 million, including initiatives like 'Strengthening the Heartland' addressing opioid misuse and youth development in rural communities.

Dr. Letcher holds a Ph.D. (2012), M.S. (2008), and B.S. (2005) from Ohio State University and SDSU, respectively. Her research emphasizes rural health disparities, youth risk behaviors, and evidence-based interventions. Notable awards include SDSU's Excellence in Outreach (2019) and College of EHS's Outstanding Researcher (2016).

Her scholarly work spans collaborations with state and federal agencies, focusing on opioid prevention, youth relationships, and community resilience. She has published extensively on topics like prescription opioid perceptions, friends-with-benefits dynamics, and protective factors in graduate student mental health.

• Key Grants: PI on $1.2M USDA-NIFA grant (2019) and $1.08M SAMHSA grant (2020).
• Labs/Teams: Leads SDSU Extension 4-H programs and collaborates with rural health coalitions.