Richard F. Catalano, Jr.

Bartley Dobb Professor for the Study and Prevention of Violence
Co-founder of the Social Development Research Group in the School of Social Work
University of Washington

Dr. Richard Catalano, Jr. is the Bartley Dobb Professor for the Study and Prevention of Violence and the co-founder of the Social Development Research Group in the School of Social Work, University of Washington and President of the Society for Prevention Research. For over 35 years, he has led research and program development to promote positive youth development and prevent problem behavior. His work has focused on discovering risk and protective factors for positive and problem behavior, designing and evaluating programs to address these factors, and using this knowledge to understand and improve prevention service systems in states and communities. He has served on expert panels for the National Academy of Sciences, federal and state government, and foundations. He has published over 350 articles and book chapters. His work has been recognized by practitioners (1996 and 2016 National Prevention Network’s Award of Excellence); criminologists (Fellow of the Academy of Experimental Criminology, 2007 August Vollmer Award from the American Society of Criminology, and 2003 Paul Tappan Award from the Western Society of Criminology); prevention scientists (2001 Prevention Science Award, 2012 Presidential Award from the Society for Prevention Research); and social workers (Fellow in the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare). Dr. Catalano is a member of the Board of Directors for the Washington State Academy of Sciences.