About
Biography
From pediatric occupational therapist to pioneering sociologist and poet laureate.
Gold Foundation Interview
Academic Journey
Dr. Ruby Mendenhall is the Kathryn Lee Baynes Dallenbach Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She holds appointments in Sociology, African American Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, Social Work, and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.
She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University, where her dissertation focused on the Gautreaux Housing Desegregation Program. Her unique background includes working as a pediatric occupational therapist and a policy researcher at the Ounce of Prevention Fund.
Education
Ph.D. Human Development & Social Policy
Northwestern University, 2004
M.P.P. Master of Public Policy (Honors)
University of Chicago, Harris School, 1994
B.S. Occupational Therapy
University of Illinois at Chicago, 1986
Interests
Research Philosophy
Dr. Mendenhall's work is guided by a commitment to understanding the lived experiences of Black women and their communities. She believes that research should not only document challenges but also illuminate pathways to resilience and healing.
"I wanted to know what happened once the funeral was over... I wanted to humanize them."
— Dr. Ruby Mendenhall
Current Leadership
Kathryn Lee Baynes Dallenbach Professor
Sociology, African American Studies & Urban Planning, UIUC
Associate Dean for Faculty Development
Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Co-Director, STEM Illinois
Chancellor's Office Public Engagement
Co-Director, MacArthur Foundation Initiative
Centering Youth's Health and Wellness
Faculty Fellow
National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Poet Laureate of the City of Urbana
Since 2024
Her Journey
Career Timeline
A journey through education, research, awards, and creative expression.
Youth Wellness Project Health Make-a-Thon
Led the Youth Wellness Project Health Make-a-Thon at Richard Wright School in Washington, DC, partnering with Master P.
Silver Anthem Award
International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences - For documentary What's Left Behind?
What's Left Behind? Documentary
Co-Producer, Co-Director, Poetry Writer - Documentary on the effects of gun violence on families
Associate Dean for Faculty Development
Became Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.
Urbana Poet Laureate
Named the 4th Poet Laureate of the City of Urbana, Illinois
Kathryn Lee Baynes Dallenbach Professor
Named endowed professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Art Exhibition: Visualizing Resilience
Collaborative art project with community members depicting stories of strength
Co-lead, Inclusive Illinois Quantum Science Initiative
Became co-lead for the Inclusive Illinois Quantum Science Initiative, bridging quantum science and diversity.
MacArthur Foundation Grant: Centering Youth
Received $500,000 MacArthur Foundation grant for 'Centering Youth's Health and Wellness: Designing a Third Reconstruction and Chicago Renaissance.'
Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz Humanism in Healthcare Award
Arnold P. Gold Foundation - Recognizing her work on humanistic healthcare and community healing
Associate Dean for Diversity
Carle Illinois College of Medicine - Leading diversity and democratization of health innovation initiatives
COVID-19 and Racial Disparities
Research on pandemic impacts on Black communities and health equity
Keynote, Spelman College Ida B. Wells Lecture
Delivered keynote address at Spelman College's Ida B. Wells Annual Lecture.
Keynote, E-Research Conference, New Zealand
Delivered keynote on 'Using Big Data to Recover Black Women's Lost History' at the E-Research Conference in New Zealand.
Poetry Collection: Healing Words
First collection of poetry exploring themes of resilience, motherhood, and community
Assistant Dean, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Named Assistant Dean for Diversity and Democratization of Health Innovation at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.
Helen Corley Petit Scholar
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recognition for outstanding research
Full Professor
Promoted to Full Professor with appointments across five departments
Weathering Research
Publications on how chronic stress affects Black women's health at the cellular level
Faculty Fellow, NCSA
Named Faculty Fellow at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications for research on wearable sensors and gun violence.
TEDxUIUC: Dreaming and Designing Spaces of Hope
Delivered TEDxUIUC talk 'Dreaming and Designing Spaces of Hope' about the DREAM and De.SH(ie) projects.
South Chicago Black Mothers' Resiliency Project
Groundbreaking study combining genomics, surveys, and interviews to understand stress and resilience
Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement
University of Illinois recognition for community-engaged scholarship
Associate Professor with Tenure
Promoted to Associate Professor in Sociology, African American Studies, and Urban Planning
Gautreaux Housing Study Publications
Series of influential papers on housing mobility and family outcomes
Assistant Professor, University of Illinois
Joined the Department of Sociology at UIUC
McCormick Tribune Postdoctoral Scholar
Began McCormick Tribune Postdoctoral Scholars Training Program at the Center for Human Potential and Public Policy, University of Chicago (2004-2006).
Ph.D. in Sociology, Northwestern University
Earned Ph.D. in Sociology from Northwestern University, with research focusing on housing desegregation and economic mobility.
Ph.D. Human Development & Social Policy
Northwestern University - Dissertation on the Gautreaux Housing Desegregation Program and its effects on families
Policy Researcher
Ounce of Prevention Fund (now Start Early) - Research on early childhood development and policy
Master of Public Policy
Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago - Focus on social policy and child development
Master of Public Policy, University of Chicago
Earned Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.
B.A. in Sociology, University of Illinois
Earned Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
B.S. Occupational Therapy
Graduated from University of Illinois Chicago with a focus on pediatric care
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Cook County Hospital, Chicago - Worked with children with developmental disabilities