Northern Illinois University
Department of Psychology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Biography

Heather L. Fox, Ph.D., is a mixed-methods translational researcher based in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, who is committed to advancing equity in education and child welfare systems. Her work focuses on implementing and scaling evidence-based strategies that promote anti-racist, data-informed practices to support the well-being and resilience of children, youth, and their families.

With a pragmatic approach to research, she specializes in translating complex findings into actionable policies and practices. She is part of the Office of Translational Research (OTR) in the Psychology Department at NIU, which is funded by a contract with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. OTR leads efforts in research translation—ensuring that evidence drives improvements in the experiences and outcomes of those involved in the Illinois child welfare system. Her work encompasses the design and execution of mixed-methods research and evaluation studies, drawing from quantitative, qualitative, cross-sectional, and interdisciplinary methodologies. Through these efforts, she helps bridge the gap between research and practice, fostering more equitable and effective systems of care.

Research Areas of Interest

• Engaging individuals with lived experience
• Well-being, well-becoming, and resilience
• Equitable child welfare practices

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Are child welfare practices black and white? Permanency professionals’ perceptions of the role of race in permanency for Black youths and families.
• Cultivating well-being: A theoretical framework of well-being, well-becoming, and resiliency. (PDF).
• Diverse pathways? The impact of a federal investment in health professions programs on enrollment of underserved students.
• Exploring equity in early postsecondary education.
• Do stackable credentials reinforce stratification or promote upward mobility? An analysis of health professions pathways reform in a community college consortium.