Robert Pleasants

Robert Pleasants, PhD, is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the UNC School of Education. He serves as Director of the Office for Undergraduate Research at UNC-Chapel Hill, connecting students to research opportunities and funding. His roles include violence prevention advocacy, having previously served as UNC’s first interpersonal violence prevention coordinator (2009–2014). He founded the UNC Men’s Project to promote inclusive masculinity and violence prevention.

Education:

• PhD in Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007
• MA in Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2000

Research Interests: Focuses on health behavior change, violence prevention strategies, and the intersection of education with community service. His work includes anti-sexist men’s groups, leadership in violence prevention, and service-learning pedagogy. Publications appear in Men and Masculinities, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, and The Huffington Post.

Advising & Grants: Advises through courses like Leadership in Violence Prevention and Critical Approaches to Service-Learning. Engages in grant-funded initiatives related to undergraduate research and violence prevention programs.

Labs/Teams: Co-founder of the UNC Men’s Project, fostering male engagement in violence prevention and inclusive masculinity.