Suzanne Colby

Suzanne Colby is a Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University's School of Public Health and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School. She serves as Deputy Director of the Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies (CAAS) and Associate Director of Applied Learning in the MPH Program. Her work focuses on enhancing methodological approaches to tobacco research, particularly among adolescents and young adults, and developing evidence-based interventions to reduce substance use.

Dr. Colby is a nationally recognized expert in adolescent tobacco use and has held leadership roles in organizations like the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT). She is also a Fellow of the American Psychological Association's Divisions 50 and 28. Her research spans tobacco control policies, the impact of social media on substance use, and culturally adapted interventions for marginalized populations.

Her recent work includes studies on nicotine reduction policies, the effects of flavored e-cigarettes, and technology-based cessation interventions for youth aging out of foster care. Dr. Colby has mentored numerous postdoctoral researchers and led training programs at CAAS until 2019. She collaborates on NIH-funded grants addressing alcohol and tobacco use prevention, including projects on media exposure and acculturation stress among Latinx populations.

Dr. Colby has authored over 189 publications, covering topics such as behavioral economics of smoking, stigma's role in substance use, and motivational interviewing. Her awards include SRNT's Presidential Service Award and APA fellowships for contributions to addiction psychology and psychopharmacology.