Henry Willis

Dr. Henry Willis is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Maryland, College Park. He holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with postdoctoral training at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on racial discrimination's impact on mental health, cultural adaptations of treatments, and leveraging mHealth technologies to address disparities. He directs the Cultural Resilience, Equity, and Technology Lab (CREATE Lab), emphasizing tech solutions for Black communities and marginalized groups.

Education:

• PhD in Clinical Psychology (Quantitative Concentration), UNC Chapel Hill
• MA in Clinical Psychology, UNC Chapel Hill
• MA in Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University
• BS in Psychology, Howard University

Research interests include:

• Racial identity as a protective factor against psychopathology
• Online/offline racism and mental health outcomes
• Cultural adaptations of evidence-based treatments
• mHealth interventions for underserved populations

His work intersects technology equity, trauma, and youth development.

Recent publications highlight online racism's effects on adolescents, racial trauma measurement, and telehealth innovations. While no formal awards are listed, his work addresses critical gaps in minority mental health through actionable interventions. He mentors graduate students and prioritizes translational research bridging clinical practice and technology.

Lab activities focus on CREATE Lab's mission: developing culturally-grounded solutions for systemic inequities in mental health access. Current projects explore grief therapy for marginalized communities and tech literacy as a resilience tool.