June 18, 2026
Kelli Canada, PhD, MSW, LCSW, has been selected to serve as associate dean for research in the Mizzou College of Health Sciences, effective July 1. She currently serves as the Marie M. and Larry L. Smith Endowed Professor, associate director for research in the School of Social Work and co-director of the Integrative Behavioral Health Clinic.
“Dr. Canada is an accomplished researcher with a strong record of securing funding from a wide range of federal agencies and foundations,” said Dean Stephanie Reid-Arndt. “She is a collaborative and strategic leader who excels at building partnerships to advance high-impact research.”
Since 2016, Canada has participated on 24 investigative teams that have secured $13.1 million in research funding, including serving as primary investigator on 18 grants totaling $6.9 million. Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Arnold Ventures. She has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, as well as two books.
Canada’s research with faculty at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and University of Missouri–Kansas City recently garnered the President’s Award for Intercampus Collaboration. At Mizzou, she has partnered with faculty in nursing, medicine, education, engineering, architectural studies and MU Extension. Her university service includes roles on Faculty Council and leadership of the Fiscal Affairs Committee and the Family Friendly Campus Committee.
Her national leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to advancing research and supporting faculty development. She serves as an ad hoc reviewer for the National Institutes of Health, sits on the editorial board of Criminal Justice and Behavior, and is a fellow and board member of the Society for Social Work and Research.
“I’m excited to work with colleagues across the college to keep building momentum in our research,” Canada said. “I look forward to advocating for our faculty, supporting their career development and helping more people understand the difference our research makes in the lives of Missourians and beyond.”
Canada joined the Mizzou faculty as an assistant professor in 2012. She earned her PhD in social service administration from the University of Chicago, where she received a National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health. She also holds an MSW from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from DePauw University.
