Lisa Wexler

Lisa Wexler is a Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan's School of Social Work and a Research Professor at the Research Center for Group Dynamics within the Institute for Social Research. With over 30 years of experience beginning in Alaska Native communities, her work centers on participatory research to address suicide prevention, substance use reduction, and mental health promotion through community-driven, strength-based approaches in under-resourced settings.

Her research focuses on community education and participatory action research with American Indian and Alaska Native populations, emphasizing cultural continuity, community assets, and practical interventions. Key themes include mobilizing social connections to build youth resilience, developing feasible tools for suicide prevention in rural contexts, and resisting structural racism through community-led mental health initiatives that prioritize dignity and self-determination.

Analysis of her 2022-2025 publications reveals consistent emphasis on Indigenous community-level protective factors, adaptation of interventions during crises (e.g., COVID-19), and the intersection of cultural identity with suicide prevention. Her work predominantly employs community-partnered methodologies in rural Alaska Native settings, with growing attention to firearm safety, school-based postvention, and cross-cultural translation of prevention frameworks.

Dr. Wexler has secured substantial funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF ARC-0742851, ARC-0755348), National Institutes of Health (R34MH096884, R01MH112458, R01MH136768, U19MH113138, R61MH125757, P20GM103395, U54GM115371), Centers for Disease Control (R49-CE-003085, R49CE003552-01-00), Kaiser Permanente Gun Violence Prevention Grant, State of Alaska, and tribal health organizations. These grants support her mission to develop pragmatic behavioral health programs through community learning and action, though specific student advisees are not documented in available materials.

She operates through the Research Center for Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research, maintaining deep collaborations with Alaska Native communities, tribal health organizations, social service nonprofits, and school districts. Her approach fosters 'communities of practice' between institutional researchers and community partners to co-create sustainable suicide prevention infrastructure and mental wellness initiatives in remote settings.