Kelsey Dickson

Kelsey Dickson, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Child and Family Development at San Diego State University. A licensed clinical psychologist, she specializes in implementation science for evidence-based interventions targeting youth behavioral health conditions in community settings. Her research examines executive functioning mechanisms in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and focuses on reducing disparities in mental health access. She leads the EFFECT Lab and holds an NIMH Career Development Award.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology with Minor in Quantitative Methods, Kent State University
• M.A. in Child Clinical Psychology, Kent State University
• B.A. in Psychology with Minor in Mathematics, Northwestern University

Dr. Dickson's research centers on:

• Development, testing, and implementation of evidence-based interventions in community settings
• Executive functioning mechanisms in child behavioral health conditions
• Adaptation processes for community mental health services
• Reducing disparities for underserved populations

Her recent publications (2017-2020) demonstrate a strong focus on implementation science frameworks (particularly EPIS), autism spectrum disorder interventions, and executive functioning research. Work employs mixed-methods approaches to study adaptation processes, cost utilization patterns, and community implementation barriers.

Key awards include:

• NIMH Career Development Award (K23MH115100) for adapting executive functioning interventions for ASD youth
• SDSU University Grants Program Award for characterizing implementation adaptations

As EFFECT Lab director, she mentors students in implementation research while securing active grants focused on community-based intervention testing. The lab conducts community-partnered studies to bridge research-practice gaps in children's mental health services, with current projects adapting executive functioning interventions for ASD youth in real-world settings.