Jill Litt

Dr. Jill Litt is a Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Colorado Boulder and an Associated Researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). She holds a PhD in environmental health and public policy from Johns Hopkins University. Her research focuses on the intersection of urban environments, community health, and nature-based solutions to address social and health challenges. Key areas include community gardens, nature-based social prescribing, environmental policy, and health equity in urban settings.

Dr. Litt leads major studies such as the Community Activation for Prevention (CAPS) trial, funded by the American Cancer Society, evaluating community gardening’s impact on health behaviors. She also leads the RECETAS project, a European Commission-funded initiative examining nature-based interventions in six global cities to combat loneliness. Her work emphasizes participatory methods and interdisciplinary collaboration, with notable contributions to understanding the mental and physical health benefits of urban greening.

Her awards include a European Commission fellowship (2018) and the Crown Institute Award for designing loneliness interventions. She has held grants from the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, and Horizon 2020. Dr. Litt’s research spans locations in the U.S., Spain, France, and Nigeria, addressing topics like brownfield remediation, environmental justice, and pandemic-era gardening trends.

Current projects include the MINT Program for adolescent parent well-being and development of novel tools like SOOPEN for assessing outdoor play behavior. She is PI on multiple RCTs and collaborates with municipal governments and NGOs to translate research into policy. Dr. Litt currently does not accept new graduate students.