Dorothy Dillard

Dorothy Dillard, Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Neighborhood Revitalization and Research (CNRR) at Delaware State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Delaware (1993), an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Delaware (1987), and a B.S. in Sociology from Auburn University (1985). Her research focuses on addressing social and health disparities in marginalized communities, particularly through translational research and practice partnerships. Key areas include policy impacts on disparities, gun violence among young Black men, and post-incarceration community integration. Dillard has secured over $1.2 million in NIH funding for the Interdisciplinary Health Research Center and leads major grants addressing public health equity and criminal justice reform.

Education:

• Ph.D., Sociology, University of Delaware, 1993
• M.A., Sociology, University of Delaware, 1987
• B.S., Sociology, Auburn University, 1985

Research Expertise:

Dillard specializes in qualitative data analysis, survey design, grant writing, and community engagement. Her 35+ year career bridges academic and applied research, emphasizing partnerships between researchers and practitioners to translate findings into actionable interventions. Notable projects include evaluations of veterans' response teams, gun violence prevention initiatives, and pandemic response strategies in underserved communities.

Grants & Funding:

• NIH Interdisciplinary Health Research Center ($1.15M, 2022–2027)
• US Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods Evaluation ($9,600, 2019–2024)
• National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research ($160,000, 2020–2024)

Labs/Teams:

She leads the CNRR, which focuses on community-driven research to address systemic inequities in health, justice, and urban development.