Directory

Dr. Noé Rubén Chávez (He/Him/His/Él) is a Community Psychologist, Assistant Professor, and Program Director of Psychology in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU). A proud Mexican-American immigrant and first-generation college student, Dr. Chávez earned his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso, his M.S. in Social/Personality Psychology from the University of California, Riverside, and his Ph.D. in Community Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His doctoral research focused on Mexican immigrant mothers in the Pilsen community, examining acculturation, cultural socialization, and transnational experiences. He has completed postdoctoral fellowships at Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital and City of Hope, focusing on adolescent health, STI/HIV prevention, cancer survivorship, and community health equity. His training also includes fellowships in health equity, evaluation, and health disparities research.

At CDU, Dr. Chávez’s work centers on youth empowerment, participatory action research, and mental health. He mentors high school and graduate students, and partners with organizations including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Watts Rising to study the social and environmental factors shaping adolescent mental health. He is actively involved in national efforts such as the Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Network and the Society for Community Research and Action, with a focus on immigrant justice and health equity. Dr. Chávez also collaborates with community partners to strengthen mental health support for Latinx families in South Los Angeles. In addition to his research, he teaches across the curriculum, contributes to medical education on health justice, and leads program evaluation and student support initiatives that advance opportunities for underrepresented students in healthcare fields.