Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar
Department Head, 2006–2022
Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar advanced occupational therapy through her scholarship in community-based participatory research, commitment to health equity, and leadership in building inclusive academic and professional communities.
I feel like an adopted daughter of occupational therapy, someone who has learned deeply from the profession while helping to build opportunities for students and colleagues and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. I have strived to create caring communities where people feel connected, experience a sense of belonging, and truly care about each other’s well-being.
Early life and education
Early life and education
Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar was raised in Bogotá, Colombia, as one of 12 children. Her parents instilled in her a commitment to community advocacy, social justice, and the importance of collective action to help alleviate issues faced by underserved and low-income communities. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Universidad de Los Andes in 1980 before moving to the United States as a Fulbright Scholar.
She completed her master’s and doctoral degrees in developmental and child psychology at the University of Kansas (1981–1987), specializing in community psychology under the mentorship of Steve Fawcett. Prior to joining the University of Illinois Chicago, she spent 12 years at Loyola University Chicago (1990–2002), rising to the rank of associate professor and serving as a faculty research fellow at the Center for Urban Research and Learning. She joined the UIC faculty in 2002.
Leadership at UIC
Dr. Suarez-Balcazar served as head of the Department of Occupational Therapy from 2006 to 2022. Though not an occupational therapist by training, she was recruited by Gary Kielhofner for her leadership in research and community engagement. She maintained the department’s entry-level program ranking in the top five in the country and fostered a culture of collaboration, transparency, and inclusion.
Suarez-Balcazar established a long-term international partnership with the Center Ann Sullivan of Peru (CASP), providing a number of occupational therapy students with meaningful service opportunities while learning from one of the world’s best inclusive programs for people with disabilities across the lifespan. She also strengthened the department’s partnership with the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and established a partnership with the University of Seville. Through these partnerships, she reinforced the department’s national and international reputation while cultivating opportunities for student exchanges and research collaboration that continue to shape the field.
During her tenure, she successfully navigated two major crises: the sudden passing of her mentor, Gary Kielhofner, in 2010, and the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. She drew on her expertise in community psychology to create caring, supportive communities for students, faculty and staff during those trying times. She stepped down in 2022 to focus on her ongoing research and writing.
Contributions to the profession
Dr. Suarez-Balcazar’s contributions span occupational therapy, health promotion, and community psychology:
- In collaboration with three other occupational therapy scholars, she initiated the annual OT Summit of Scholars in 2012, an intellectual and scientific forum for researchers and junior scientists to share current projects, discuss research innovations, and build collaborations
- Secured over $12 million in grant funding as a PI, Co-PI, or Co-I for community-engaged research to study the needs of underserved populations, including people with disabilities, Latinx immigrant families of children with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups; and to develop culturally tailored interventions
- Developed and validated the Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument, a tool used internationally to train practitioners in culturally responsive practice
- Provided ongoing support to the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) by speaking at national meetings, sponsoring a UIC OT chapter, and serving as advisor and mentor to the UIC COTAD leaders
- Contributed to occupational therapy’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through her publications, presentations, and creating teaching modules
Her work bridges community psychology and occupational therapy, embracing a community-engaged approach, positioning marginalized communities as co-creators of knowledge, and emphasizing equity and inclusion in practice and scholarship.
Scholarship and legacy
Dr. Suarez-Balcazar’s legacy is anchored in her “care justice” framework, which reimagines community as a relational space where caring drives systemic change. While fostering caring communities grounded in trust, connection, and belonging, she advanced community-engaged research in which community partners were meaningfully involved throughout the process, while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Suarez-Balcazar lasting impact is reflected in her mentorship of numerous graduate and professional students, many from underrepresented backgrounds, who now lead equity-focused projects across the U.S. and internationally. Through her research, leadership, and mentorship, Suarez-Balcazar has shaped occupational therapy education and practice while promoting inclusive, community-centered approaches. She advanced national policy and advocacy through co-authoring an influential policy statement on the harmful effects of immigrant family separation, serving as a key resource in legal and scholarly discussions. Her scholarship includes more than 105 peer-reviewed articles, 41 book chapters, and co-editing or co-authoring 7 books.
Leadership and accomplishments
National and International Impact
- Was the Co-director/Co-PI of the Center for Capacity Building for Minorities with Disabilities Research
- Secured over $12 million in research funding for community-based interventions
- Established international service-learning programs with Center Ann Sullivan of Peru
- Established an international partnership with the University of Seville, Coalition for the Study of Health, Power, and Diversity
- Organized a series of workshops on community-based participatory research with colleagues in Sweden
Research, Publications, and Presentations
- Authored 105+ peer-reviewed articles, 41 book chapters, and 7 books
- Mentored over 25 graduate students, many from underrepresented backgrounds
- Applied community psychology principles to occupational therapy research and education
Professional and public service
- President, Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA)
- Chair, AOTA Diversity Ad Hoc Committee
- Member, AOTF Research Advisory Panel
- Service on several editorial boards, including the American Journal of Community Psychology, Occupational Therapy International, and the American Journal of Evaluation
- Participation in an advisory and/or consulting role with numerous organizations, including El Valor Corporation in Chicago, GRUPO Salto, the Annie E. Casey Foundation Latino faculty mentorship program, and the Solutions Taskforce of the National Alliance for Hispanic Families
- Invited grant reviewer for the National Institute of Health and several other federal agencies
Honors and Awards
- Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA), S. Sarason Award for Community Research and Action, and Outstanding Service and Leadership Award
- Fellow, American Psychological Association (APA) and Fellow, Society for Community Research and Action (APA Division 27)
- University Scholar Award, UIC
- Distinguished Alumna, Universidad de Los Andes, Department of Psychology and University of Kansas, Department of Applied Behavioral Sciences
- Nominated to the OT Leaders & Legacies Society, AOTF
- Best mentor award, Annie Casey Foundation, Leaders in Equity Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) mentorship program
