Sungha Kang

Sungha Kang serves as an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology program within the Department of Psychology at Loyola University Chicago. His research critically examines systemic racism's impact on mental health disparities among children and families, with specific focus on how externalizing behaviors (aggression, hyperactivity, defiance) are identified and treated in Black and Brown youth within educational and clinical systems.

Education

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Clinical Internship, University of Illinois at Chicago Psychiatry
• M.S. in Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• B.A., University of Iowa

Dr. Kang's research program investigates the interplay between contextual factors (parenting, family dynamics, schools, community violence) and systems-level factors (school districts, healthcare, juvenile justice) contributing to outcomes for children with behavioral challenges. Through community-based participatory research methods, he develops culturally-responsive mental health interventions aimed at dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. His work emphasizes trauma-informed care and structural solutions to increase access to equitable mental healthcare for youth of color.

His publication record (2017-2023) demonstrates consistent focus on racial disparities in child mental health, with recurring themes including externalizing behaviors, ADHD diagnosis discrepancies, parenting influences across racial contexts, and school-based mental health interventions. His methodological approach spans longitudinal studies, randomized controlled trials, scale development, and mixed-methods analyses, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with clinical psychology, developmental science, and social justice frameworks.

Dr. Kang actively mentors graduate students, currently accepting new PhD candidates for Fall 2024 in Clinical Psychology. He directs the CIRRCLE Lab (Community and Institutional Responses to Racism, Resilience, and Child Mental Health Equity Laboratory), which partners with community organizations to develop and implement evidence-based mental health supports for children and families in underserved communities.