Oscar A. Barbarin

Oscar A. Barbarin is Professor of African American Studies and Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a leading scholar in the psychosocial development of African American boys and young men, with a focus on resilience, adversity, and equity in education and mental health systems. His work spans research, policy, and international collaboration.

His research interests include:

• Universal mental health screening and services for preschool children
• Emotional and academic development of boys of color
• Early childhood mathematics
• Racial disparities in school discipline and child protection
• Restorative justice practices
• Strengths-based development under adversity

His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward integrating developmental science with social justice, emphasizing anti-racist frameworks, cultural strengths, and policy reform. He has published extensively on the impact of trauma, structural inequities, and resilience in marginalized youth, particularly African American males.

Dr. Barbarin has received significant recognition for his work, including:

• Distinguished Contributions to Understanding International, Cultural and Contextual Diversity in Child Development (SRCD)
• Award for Advances in Culture and Diversity in Prevention Sciences (Society for Prevention Research, 2020)

He has been actively involved in national and international leadership, serving as chair of the US National Committee for Psychology (National Academies of Science) and on the executive boards of the International Union of Psychological Sciences and the SRCD Governing Board. His grant-funded research includes evaluating 'Ban and Replace' policies to reduce racial disparities in school discipline. He has also led initiatives to address the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic through international collaboration.

Dr. Barbarin is affiliated with the African American Studies Department and contributes to psychology and developmental science through interdisciplinary research, mentoring, and editorial leadership. He continues to shape national discourse on mental health, equity, and child development.