Chelsea Williams

Chelsea Williams, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She serves as Director of the EMPOWER Youth Lab and is a Core Member of the Culture, Race and Health Transdisciplinary Core at the Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation (iCubed). She holds affiliate roles at the Center for Cultural Experiences in Prevention and the Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development.

Dr. Williams earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Arizona State University in 2016. Her research focuses on ethnic-racial identity development, discrimination, and culturally informed interventions for Latinx, African American, and Multiracial youth. She emphasizes applied research using advanced quantitative methods to address disparities in education, mental health, and well-being.

Her work examines processes across childhood through emerging adulthood, including topics like colorism, cultural socialization, and resilience. Recent studies explore how pandemic stressors and discrimination impact mental health, particularly among marginalized groups. She has published widely in journals like American Psychologist and Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology.

• Awards: 2017 Latino Caucus Dissertation Award, 2017 Society for Research in Child Development Award, 2016 Division 45 Distinguished Student Research Award
• Courses Taught: Psychology 603 (Developmental Processes), Psychology 304 (Lifespan Development)

Dr. Williams collaborates with community partners to design interventions that strengthen youth development. Current projects include testing the moderating role of exercise in pandemic-related stress and analyzing barriers to mental health care among Latinx families. She advocates for transdisciplinary approaches to address systemic inequities in health and education.