Larissa Duncan

Larissa Duncan is the Elizabeth C. Davies Chair in Child and Family Well-being and a Professor in the Department of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Human Ecology. Her research focuses on multi-level systems change to promote health equity, particularly through mindful parenting frameworks and mindfulness/compassion training in medical, school, and community contexts. She directs the AWARE Research Lab, examining biopsychosocial pathways of contemplative practices in child/family development and advancing culturally relevant interventions with global majority communities.

Education: PhD and MS in Human Development & Family Studies from Penn State University. She teaches in both the BS Human Development & Family Studies and PhD Human Ecology programs at UW–Madison.

Research Interests: Dr. Duncan’s work bridges prevention science, maternal-child health, and reproductive justice, emphasizing community-based participatory research. Current projects include anti-racist parenting training for families of young children, improving healthcare practices with Latino/e/x and Indigenous immigrant communities, and exploring nature-environment linkages with human health across lifespans.

Funding: Supported by NIH (NCCIH, NIDA), private donors, and foundations. She collaborates with organizations like Cooperativa Raíces para el Cambio and Public Health Madison & Dane County.

Affiliations: Health & Well-Being Institute (Division of Extension), Human Development & Relationships Institute (Division of Extension), Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (School of Medicine and Public Health), Center for Healthy Minds, Health Disparities Research Scholars Postdoctoral Program, and 4W Initiative.

Labs/Teams: Leads the AWARE Lab, which integrates mindfulness, equity, and systems approaches to family well-being. Mentors graduate students and postdocs in prevention science and culturally responsive interventions.