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 build opportunities for students and colleagues. I have strived to create caring communities where people feel connected, experience 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 11 siblings. Her parents instilled a commitment to community advocacy, social justice, and the importance of collective action to help alleviate issues experienced 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, providing an opportunity for a number of occupational therapy students to engage in meaningful service opportunities. She also strengthened the department’s partnership with the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and established a partnership with the University of Seville.
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 stepped down in 2022 to focus on her ongoing research and writing.
Contributions to the profession
Dr. Suarez-Balcazar’s contributions span occupational therapy, public health, and community psychology:
- Developed the Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument, a validated tool used internationally to train practitioners in culturally responsive practice
- Initiated the annual OT Summit of Scholars in 2012 for researchers and junior scientists to engage in an intellectual and scientific forum to share current projects, discuss research innovations, and build collaborations
- Secured more than $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
- 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 work bridges community psychology and occupational therapy, embracing a community-engaged approach and 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. Her scholarship includes more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, 41 book chapters, and 10 books. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and served as president of the Society for Community Research and Action.
Her 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.
Leadership and accomplishments
National and International Impact
- Developed Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument for global use
- Secured over $12 million in research funding for community-based interventions
- Established international service-learning programs with Center Ann Sullivan of Peru and University of Seville
- Co-authored policy statements addressing immigrant family separation
Research, Publications, and Presentations
- Author of 100+ peer-reviewed articles, 41 book chapters, and 10 books
- Mentored 25 graduate students, many from underrepresented backgrounds
- Applied community psychology principles to occupational therapy research and education
Honors and Awards
- Fellow, American Psychological Association
- President, Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA)
- SCRA Sarason Award for Community Research and Action
- University Scholar Award, UIC
- Distinguished Alumna, Universidad de Los Andes and University of Kansas
