Lisa Wexler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Telephone: 413-545-2248
Email: lwexler@schoolph.umass.edu
Campus Address: 313 Arnold House
Dr. Wexler is an assistant professor of Community Health Studies, Department of Public Health. Dr. Wexler received her doctorate in Community Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and a Masters of Social Work from Florida State University. Her current research interests include understanding youth resilience in Alaska Native and circumpolar communities, exploring the relationship between culture, colonization and health, and identifying strategies to promote behavioral health in minority communities. Specifically, this community-based, participatory research has focused on suicide prevention in Native communities, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and the practice and structure of mental health services in rural, Indigenous communities. Dr. Wexler has a particular interest in the translation of research to practice and in helping communities adopt and integrate current research into their prevention and intervention strategies.
Recent Publications
Wexler, L. Identifying Colonial Discourses in Inupiat Young People’s Narratives as a Way to Understand the No Future of Inupiat Youth Suicide. Journal of American Indian Alaska Native Mental Health Research (in press)
Wexler, L. & Graves, K. (2008) The importance of culturally-responsive training for building a behavioral health workforce in Alaska Native villages: A case study from Northwest Alaska. Special SAMSHA issue of the Journal of Rural Mental Health 32 (3):22-33.
Wexler, L., Hill, R., Bertone-Johnson, E. & Fenaughty (2008). Correlates of suicide and suicide attempts in Northwest Alaska. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 38(3):311-320.
Hagan, K., Hill, R. & Wexler, L. (2007). The Prevention of Suicide within the Health Care Setting and in Alaska. Primary Care, Indian Health Service 32(7): 198-201.
Hill, R., Perkins, R., & Wexler, L. (2007). An Analysis of Hospital Visits during the 12 Months Preceding Suicide Death in Northern Alaska. Alaska Medicine 49 (1): 16-21.
Wexler, L. & Goodwin, B. (2006). Youth and adult community member beliefs about Inupiat youth suicide and prevention. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 65(5): 28-38.
Wexler, L. (2006). Inupiat Youth Suicide & Culture Loss: Changing Community Conversations. Social Science and Medicine 63:2938-2948.
