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Duke University
Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Dr. Keisha L. Bentley-Edwards is the Associate Director of Research for the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity and an Associate Professor at Duke University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Bentley-Edwards’ interdisciplinary research focuses on how racism, gender, and culture influence development throughout the lifespan, primarily focusing on African Americans. An underlying thread in her interdisciplinary research is the use of cultural strengths to promote resiliency in students and families in the face of racial stressors and challenging social contexts. Dr. Bentley-Edwards has published and lectured extensively on the use of racial socialization and racial cohesion strategies to facilitate positive outcomes in high school and college students. She has been sought out by school districts, universities, nonprofits, and a wide range of practitioners to nurture complex conversations around race and racism in ways that not only identify disparities but prompt meaningful strategies for remedying these disparities. Her research has been supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bentley-Edwards regularly shares her expertise on the role of structural racism and bias on health, education, and social outcomes with policymakers, practitioners, and the broader community.