LANCE KEENE, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Silver School of Social Work at New York University (NYU), where I serve as Project Director for New York City Communities 4 Health (NYCC4H)—a federally funded research initiative dedicated to improving mental, behavioral, and developmental outcomes among Black children and families in New York City. I am also an affiliate investigator at the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at NYU’s Global School of Public Health. My research applies intersectional and health equity frameworks to study how race-related factors and structural disparities are associated with health outcomes in Black children. I have over five years of graduate-level teaching experience focused on early childhood, adolescent development, emphasizing social and racial injustice as experienced by Black children in the United States (U.S.). I am well-prepared to serve as a National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) Public Voices Fellow on Racial Justice in Early Childhood, as this role aligns with my professional and personal dedication to the advancement of environments that recognize and build upon the strengths and cultural contributions of Black children, highlighting the significant social and cultural assets they offer to society.
