Kevin Tan

Professor Tan’s research focuses on understanding profiles of youth risk and protective factors, developmental patterns of problems behaviors, and their social contextual influences. Based in a person-oriented developmental psychopathology perspective, his work focuses on interventions that target pattern-specific developmental risk. He has published work in the area of youth risk and protective factors, family influences, and school social work practice. The goal of Professor Tan’s work is to promote the implementation of prevention research in school settings. Professor Tan teaches courses in Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents and Program Evaluation.

Professor Tan and his research team are examining developmental patterns of social-emotional learning (SEL) needs among high school students. Professor Tan has received campus funding and his work is currently funded by the Spencer Foundation. Based on schools in Central Illinois and New Jersey, Professor Tan tracks patterns of students’ SEL needs and monitors the influence of school, family, and peer factors on students’ academics and behaviors. Findings from Professor Tan’s projects are used to develop systematic and scientific approaches to designing appropriate school-based interventions that serve students according to their individual needs. Professor Tan works with administrative and teacher teams to understand SEL data, and he promotes strategies to support the social, emotional and behavioral health of students, families, and their communities.