Irwin N. Sandier

The resume of Dr. Irwin N. Sandler highlights a distinguished career in psychology, particularly in the fields of prevention research and community psychology. He obtained his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rochester in 1971 and began his professional journey with internships at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Buffalo and the Children & Youth Division at Rochester General Hospital. From 1970 to 1980, Dr. Sandler served as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University (ASU), eventually progressing to Associate Professor and then Professor of Psychology, before being named Regents’ Professor of Psychology. Since 2011, he has held the title of Regents’ Professor Emeritus and Research Professor at ASU. Dr. Sandler’s expertise centers on developing, evaluating, and disseminating preventive interventions for children and families under stress, such as those dealing with divorce, bereavement, and poverty. He employs developmental theories and resilience models to create effective prevention and promotion interventions. His dedication to mental health research and prevention is further demonstrated by his role as the Director of the Prevention Research Center at ASU from 1984 to 2011. His work has garnered numerous accolades, including Fellow status in the Society for Prevention Research and the American Psychological Association, the 1999 Award for Distinguished Contributions to Theory and Research in Community Psychology, and a Presidential Citation from the APA for his contributions to child and family mental health. Additional recognition includes the Friend of ECPN Award, the Stanley Cohen Distinguished Research Award, and various prestigious lectureships and awards from institutions such as Pennsylvania State University, George Washington University, and the Association of Death Education and Counseling. Dr. Sandler has secured substantial funding through grants from major organizations like the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). These grants have supported extensive research projects focused on preventing stress-related psychological issues in children and families, training researchers in child mental health, and investigating interventions for bereaved families and non-custodial parents. His projects have attracted millions of dollars in funding over several decades. His scholarly output includes co-editing books, contributing to numerous journal articles, and editing special issues of prominent journals such as the American Journal of Community Psychology. His collaborative publications often address the efficacy of intervention programs, resilience theory, and methodologies for evaluating preventive measures. Throughout his career, Dr. Sandler has demonstrated a commitment to bridging the gap between research and real-world applications. His work aims to enhance mental health services by translating evidence-based programs into practical community settings. Additionally, his contributions to the field of community psychology are notable for their emphasis on developing interventions that support children and families in high-stress situations and improve overall mental health outcomes.