Clea A. McNeely, DrPH, has been named deputy director of the Center for Adolescent Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Previously, McNeely served as the Center’s research director. She is also an assistant professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health.
“Dr. McNeely’s devotion to helping urban youth become healthy and productive adults is evident in her research record and the community-based research projects and local partnerships she initiates,” said Freya Sonenstein, PhD, director of the Center. “Her appointment to deputy director will serve to build upon the work she— and everyone else at the Center—accomplishes on a daily basis on behalf of the people who work with youth in Baltimore.”
As a public health researcher, McNeely has investigated the influence of school, parents and peers on adolescents and assessed the ability of community programs to promote healthy youth development. She joined the Center in 2004 after earning her doctorate in public health at UCLA and serving on the faculty at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine.
“I am thrilled to take on a new role at the Center,” said McNeely. “My goal as deputy director will be to strengthen the settings that support young people’s development—whether it is schools, job programs, social services, health care facilities or the family. Every component needs to champion adolescent health as a whole.”
The Center for Adolescent Health conducts research to identify young people’s strengths and needs and evaluates interventions to promote adolescent health and well-being. It is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Center works with committed community partners on projects that have both scholarship and practical utility. Research projects are collaboratively designed to build the capacity of all parties involved, and actively involve young people as advisors in the research process.
Public Affairs media contacts for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Tim Parsons or Kenna Lowe or at 410-955-6878 or paffairs@jhsph.edu.