Bridget Weller
Professor
Expert in race, ethnicity, and mental health - emphasis on Black and multiracial individuals
5447 Woodward Avenue, #222
919-360-5036
Bridget Weller
Biography
Bridget E. Weller joined the Wayne State University School of Social Work as a professor in Fall 2023. Before then, she was a professor of social work and the Director of Research in the College of Health and Human Services at Western Michigan University. She earned her doctoral degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MSW and BA (Psychology) from The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Weller is a licensed clinical social worker and participated in two post-master clinical fellowships at Yale University and received clinical training at The Duke Child and Family Study Center and The National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.
Weller’s research has three intersecting areas related to mental health among Black and multiracial individuals and families: descriptive epidemiology, risk and protective factors, and intervention research. Her epidemiological research focuses on comorbid psychiatric conditions, suicide, and access to care. Her research on risk and protective factors ascribes to either a social determinant of health or a trauma-informed framework. Her intervention research focuses on developing and implementing mental health interventions and workforce development programs. Weller has received funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Professional contributions include Associate Editor for the Journal of Black Psychology and Journal of Substance Use and Misuse and involvement as a member of the Society for Social Work and Research (inducted as a fellow in 2016).
Degrees and Certifications
- PhD Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, December 2009
- MSW Master of Social Work, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, December 2000
- BA Psychology, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, December 1999
- Licensed Master’s Social Worker – Clinical (Michigan)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (North Carolina)
Teaching Interests
- Research Methods
- Advanced Statistics
- Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Intervention and Treatment (Development and Implementation)
- Trauma Across the Lifespan
Areas of Expertise
- Race, Ethnicity, and Mental Health – Emphasis on Black and Multiracial Individuals
- Behavioral Interventions
- Secondary Data Analysis
Research Project
Mental Health Among Multiracial Emerging Adults
Weller is leading a study on meeting the mental health needs of multiracial emerging adults. This study focuses on enhancing knowledge of clinical approaches to providing effective, developmentally- and culturally-appropriate care.
Behavioral Health Workforce Development
Weller and colleagues are conducting a study on training future and current behavioral health care providers to provide developmentally- and culturally-appreciate care. This project aims to advance knowledge on preparing the workforce to meet the dynamic needs of diverse communities.
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers