Ariel A. Williamson

Dr. Ariel A. Williamson is a clinical psychologist and Diplomate in Behavioral Sleep Medicine at the Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health and Department of Psychology (University of Oregon). Her research focuses on pediatric sleep health disparities using socio-ecological frameworks and implementation science. She previously held appointments at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

• Education: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (University of Delaware), Internship and T32 Fellowship (CHOP/University of Pennsylvania)

Her work examines how child, family, school, neighborhood, and socio-cultural factors interplay to affect sleep outcomes and developmental trajectories. She develops community-partnered interventions to address sleep health inequities in urban primary care settings.

Recent publications highlight applications of implementation science to sleep interventions, longitudinal analyses of sleep problems, mHealth innovations, and cross-cultural sleep pattern comparisons. She has received multiple awards including the Diane J. Willis Award (2020), Carole L. Marcus Award (2023), and Clinician Investigator Rising Star (2024).

• Scientific Leadership: Board member of Beds for Kids, Associate Editor of Sleep Health, Committee member at American Heart Association
• Funding Sources: NICHD (K23HD094905), NHLBI (R01HL163798), Sleep Research Society Foundation, AASM Foundation

Dr. Williamson actively seeks doctoral students for Fall 2025 admissions and collaborates with community organizations to improve sleep education and resources for socioeconomically disadvantaged youth.