Jane Leer

Jane Leer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at San Diego State University (SDSU), part of the College of Sciences. Her research focuses on mitigating inequities in youth mental health and education by examining contexts such as race, class, neighborhoods, and social policies. She employs causal inference, policy evaluations, and qualitative methods to study how policies and programs can equitably serve diverse populations.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Boston College
• Ph.D., Duke University
• M.S., Stanford University
• B.A., University of California, Berkeley

Research Interests: Dr. Leer’s work explores how neighborhood, school, and family contexts shape youth mental health, academic engagement, and social cognition. She also investigates policies addressing poverty and racism-related inequities. Her interdisciplinary approach includes global collaborations in Latin America and West Africa.

Grants & Funding: Supported by the American Psychological Association, Society for Research in Child Development, and Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Active in community-based research and policy translation.

Labs & Teams: Directs the CORE Lab, focusing on Contexts of Race and Equity in Development. Collaborates on international projects in education and public health.