Ryan Wade

Ryan Wade is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work and the Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity at the University of Illinois. He serves as the Founder and Director of the Queer Intersections, Inclusion, and Innovation (Qi3) Lab, focusing on health disparities among sexual and gender minorities, particularly young sexual minority men of color.

Dr. Wade's educational background includes:

• PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2013-2018)
• MSW in Social Work from University of Michigan School of Social Work (2011-2013)
• BA in Psychology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2006-2010)

Dr. Wade's research program examines social determinants of health, structural racism, and health disparities within LGBTQ+ communities. He has pioneered work defining and measuring Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD) among young sexually minoritized men of color, while identifying protective factors at individual and community levels. His current projects investigate the mental health impact of anti-LGBTQ policy discourse on queer young adults amid increasing legislative hostility. His fingerprint analysis reveals strong concentrations in Sexual Minority issues (100%), Gender Discrimination (92%), and Sexual Racism (41%).

His recent publications demonstrate consistent thematic focus across multiple disciplines, employing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to explore intersectional identities and discrimination experiences. The research trajectory shows increasing attention to digital spaces as sites of discrimination and resilience among marginalized communities.

Dr. Wade's research has received significant media attention:

• NPR features on his work regarding ethnic identity as a buffer against sexual racism
• Business Insider coverage of his findings on online dating community differences
• Chicago Tribune articles discussing his research on LGBTQ+ health disparities
• Rolling Stone magazine features on his policy impact studies

As Director of the Qi3 Lab, Dr. Wade mentors emerging scholars and actively seeks new research participants. His work directly informs health promotion initiatives aimed at mitigating discrimination's adverse effects on racially, sexually, and gender minoritized populations through evidence-based interventions at multiple socioecological levels.

The Qi3 Lab serves as a hub for innovative research on LGBTQ+ communities with particular attention to racial and ethnic diversity. Current projects examine sexual racism in digital spaces and the psychological impact of anti-LGBTQ legislation, positioning the lab at the forefront of intersectional health equity research.