Kelly Clary Honored for Community-Engaged Research with Real-World Impact
University of Illinois School of Social Work alumna Kelly Clary, BSW ’15, MSW ’16, PhD ’20, received the Texas State Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Research Activities for work that brings researchers, students and communities together to create lasting change.
For Kelly Clary, meaningful research begins with relationships.
That principle has guided Clary throughout a career devoted to bringing academic research into communities and ensuring that the people most affected by an issue help shape the solutions. Her commitment was recently recognized with the Texas State Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Research Activities.
“Receiving the Texas State Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Research Activities meant a great deal to me because it was a recognition not just about the grants that I have been awarded or the manuscripts I have written, but rather an affirmation of the kind of researcher and scholar I strive to be,” Clary said.
Her research has always been community-engaged, with an emphasis on bridging the divide between universities and the communities they seek to serve. Whether partnering with students, Veterans, schools, youth or community organizations, Clary wants those most affected by an issue to have a voice in the research and a role in translating its findings into action.
“Receiving this award was really affirming,” she said. “It told me that the university recognized the value of my community-engaged approach, and importantly that community-engaged, collaborative research can be rigorous scholarship while also having a real-world impact.”
The recognition is also meaningful because of Clary’s dedication to mentoring students and involving them throughout the research process.
“For me, success is not just about what I accomplish individually—it’s about who I can bring alongside and what we can build together for lasting positive change,” she said.
Research with communities
Clary’s approach is grounded in her education and experience as a social worker. She believes that schools, health organizations, behavioral health providers, social workers, families and community members contribute expertise and lived experience that make research stronger.
“I believe the people closest to a problem are often closest to the solutions and should be involved in those conversations and decision making,” she said. “I never go into a community assuming I know the answers—I strive to actively listen, learn, and build solutions together to ensure we create impact that is meaningful, sustainable, and often scalable.”
For Clary, research is a partnership rather than a short-term exchange.
“My goal is never to go into a community, collect information, and leave,” she said. “My goal is to build lasting relationships, learn together, create something meaningful together, and hopefully leave the community with something that is stronger because we worked together.”
A foundation built in Urbana-Champaign
Clary earned all three of her degrees from the University of Illinois School of Social Work, completing her BSW in 2015, MSW in 2016 and PhD in 2020. She connects her work today to the nine years she spent in Urbana-Champaign and to the mentors who helped her develop as a social worker, researcher, clinician, educator and leader.
As a graduate research assistant with the University of Illinois Counseling Center’s Alcohol and Other Drug Office, Clary supported the implementation of alcohol-prevention programming for first-year students. Her mentor and supervisor, Dr. Elora Orazio, encouraged her to apply to the Social Work PhD program and helped deepen her knowledge of substance-use prevention and program evaluation.
Dr. Doug Smith, Clary’s PhD mentor, provided opportunities in both research and clinical practice that strengthened her motivational interviewing skills. Dr. Jan Carter-Black supported Clary as a teaching assistant and taught her valuable lessons about leading a classroom of aspiring social workers. Dr. Teresa Ostler helped develop her expertise in qualitative data collection and analysis, while Dr. Chi-Fang Wu supported her ideas, projects and growth as a leader.
Clary also worked closely with the Chez Veterans Center. She continues to collaborate with Dr. Jeni Hunniecutt, who provided extensive feedback and assisted with recruitment for Clary’s dissertation research with emerging adult Veterans and military members. Dr. Chung-Yi Chiu of the College of Applied Health Sciences supported her qualitative research with Veterans and remains a collaborator today.
“One of the biggest lessons I took from my time in Urbana-Champaign was the importance of building and strengthening relationships across disciplines and, most importantly, with and alongside the communities we intend to support,” Clary said. “I learned that meaningful, sustainable work happens when researchers, professionals, and community members come together as partners to address shared challenges.”
Addressing urgent community needs
Since joining Texas State in 2020, Clary has led or co-led numerous funded research projects. She is currently leading three major initiatives focused on youth overdose prevention, Veterans who have experienced moral injury and the preservation of Veterans’ stories.
Across the projects, Clary and her collaborators work with community advisory boards, support more than 30 Texas State student research assistants and build connections between the university and communities throughout Texas.
The Fentanyl Education Support Training and Awareness Program, known as FESTA, is supported by $1.87 million in funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Focused on fentanyl and overdose prevention among youth, the program reached more than 6,800 middle and high school students in person and delivered presentations in more than 290 classrooms during the last school year.
Clary also leads Building Resilience and Advancing Veteran Engagement, or BRAVE. Funded with $299,294 from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the project builds community and elevates the voices and lived experiences of Veterans who have experienced moral injury, alongside their Caring Circles.
A third initiative, the TexVet Legacy Project, is funded with $286,985 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It preserves and honors Veterans’ stories and legacies through storytelling, education and community engagement.
“The common thread that ties these projects together is my commitment to interdisciplinary, community-engaged research,” Clary said. “I am honored and truly excited to bring together researchers, students, schools, youth, community organizations, Veterans, and people with lived experience to develop community and partnerships to advance solutions to their most pressing health and mental health needs.”
Clary has also supported proclamations at the Hays County Commissioners Court recognizing National Fentanyl Awareness and Overdose Prevention Day on April 29 and International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31.
Recently appointed a Senior Faculty Fellow at Texas State’s Translational Health Research Center, Clary will help strengthen the center’s collaborative, community-engaged research portfolio by building partnerships that promote health, mental health, resilience and well-being.
“Ultimately, I hope our work moves research beyond the university, strengthens our communities, and creates lasting impact in the lives of the people we work alongside,” she said.
Relationships first
For social work and doctoral students interested in combining research, community partnership and real-world impact, Clary recommends beginning with genuine connection.
“I would encourage students to build relationships first and let the research and grant funding follow,” she said. “Some of the most meaningful work happens when you take the time to listen to communities, understand their priorities, and develop genuine partnerships.”
She also encourages students to be curious, pursue interdisciplinary opportunities and step beyond their comfort zones. Along with developing research skills, they should learn how systems operate and how to communicate effectively with schools, agencies, community organizations and people with lived experience.
“Importantly, you don’t have to do it alone—and you shouldn’t do it alone!” she said. “Build a strong team, find mentors and collaborators who complement your strengths, and surround yourself with people who share your passion and vision.”
Clary believes community-engaged research can be rigorous while also remaining creative, innovative and energizing.
“And most importantly, have fun with it!” she said. “Find the topics and communities you are passionate about, embrace the ups and the downs, and remain open to where the journey may lead. You don’t have to have everything figured out—you truly just need to be willing to learn, build genuine relationships and partnerships, and remain persistent in pursuing the work you believe in.”
That sense of purpose has become even more personal since Clary became a mother to Kinley, 4, and Cambria, 2.
“Becoming a mother has given me an entirely new perspective and strengthened my commitment to the work I do with and for young people,” she said. “I think about the communities, schools, and environments I want my own daughters to grow up in, and that perspective continually reminds me of why prevention, early intervention, and investing in youth matter so much.”
“My identity as a mother has deepened my empathy, strengthened my sense of purpose, and made my work supporting and empowering young people even more personal and meaningful.”