Emily J. Ozer

Emily J. Ozer is a Professor of Community Health and Human Development at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, affiliated with Berkeley Social Welfare. She specializes in behavioral science theory, mental health, and program evaluation. Her research focuses on school-based health promotion, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and community-based participatory research (CBPR), with a particular interest in how school contexts influence program outcomes. Current work includes a multi-method study on empowerment-oriented participatory research interventions in San Francisco public schools.

Her research integrates collaborative-participatory approaches with traditional scientific methods, emphasizing the impact of collaborative processes on intervention outcomes. Key themes include youth-led participatory action research (YPAR), adolescent sleep barriers, and opioid use prevention. Dr. Ozer’s work bridges academic research with practical applications, advocating for institutional changes to support public health equity and youth empowerment.

• Education: Not explicitly listed in provided materials

Her publications emphasize youth empowerment through participatory research, addressing issues like school climate, technology use, and health disparities. She has explored innovative methods for scaling YPAR via technology and influencing school district policies.

Grants and collaborations focus on institutional change mechanisms, community-academic partnerships, and policy advocacy. She leads projects integrating YPAR into school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS).

Labs/Teams: Active in community-based research networks, particularly in San Francisco schools and institutions addressing systemic inequities in public health.