Rheeda L. Walker

Rheeda L. Walker is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston, within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. She is the Director of the Culture, Risk, and Resilience Lab and a licensed clinical psychologist with a Ph.D. from Florida State University. Her work is deeply rooted in addressing mental health disparities through culturally informed research.

Her research interests include Black and African American mental health, suicide science, race-related stress and discrimination, and the role of religiosity and spirituality in culturally-informed coping. She investigates how social and cultural barriers impact mental health outcomes, particularly among underserved populations, and aims to develop culturally relevant models of well-being.

The trends across her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on suicide ideation and behavior, particularly in racial/ethnic minority populations. Her work integrates themes of discrimination, ethnic identity, hopelessness, and protective factors like religiosity and social support. She also explores the intersection of physical and mental health, as seen in her studies on HIV and health literacy. Her scholarship bridges clinical psychology, cultural studies, and public health, emphasizing both risk and resilience.

Dr. Walker has made significant contributions through her publications in top journals such as Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, and JAMA Psychiatry. She is also the author of the influential book The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health, which brings her research to broader audiences.

She mentors a number of graduate students, many of whom are co-authors on her publications, including J.R. Brooks, J.H. Hong, S. Cheref, and T.K. Salami. While no formal grants or awards are listed, her sustained research output and leadership in the field suggest active funding and scholarly recognition. She teaches courses in Diversity in Clinical Psychology, Seminar in Black Psychology, Theories in Personality, and Clinical Practicum.

She leads the Culture, Risk, and Resilience Lab, which focuses on understanding psychological risk and protective factors in marginalized communities, particularly African Americans. The lab’s work emphasizes longitudinal and multiethnic data to inform culturally competent interventions.