PhD, MSW, MA

Professor

Department of Public Health and School of Social Work

Director, Center for Children and Families Across Cultures

Education

• PhD, Washington University, 2006
• MSW, Washington University, 2001
• MA, Yonsei University, 2000
• BA, Sungkyunkwan University, 1998

Teaching interests

Research Methods and Design; Principles of Epidemiology; Inequality and Disparities in Health; Program Evaluation; Knowledge Building: Theory

Research interests

• Health-Risk Behaviors (e.g., tobacco and other substance use problems, physical inactivity)
• Interactions between Mental Health and Physical Health
• Epidemiologic Research
• Population Health and Health Promotion
• Adolescent Health
• Health Disparities
• Research with Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups, and Vulnerable/Underserved Populations
• International and Cross-Cultural Research

Research and scholarly activity

Dr. Yu’s research has been focused on health disparities and the interconnections of mental health, physical health, and health risk behavior. Each of these components of a person’s life impacts the others. Dr. Yu compares different segments of populations, particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged populations, to identify problems and issues around these aspects of people’s lives. His goal is to generate scientific evidence that practitioners in the field can use to better meet the needs of their clients.

Dr. Yu’s research was recognized by the Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) as he was inducted as the SSWR Fellow in 2017 and received the Distinguished Research Award from the University of Missouri College of Human Environmental Sciences. In addition, Dr. Yu has a joint appointment with the School of Social Work and Department of Public Health. He was inducted into the Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society, founded by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in 1924, to be recognized for his achievements in public health research and engagement.

Selected publications

Jang, E., & Yu, M**. (2022). Service provision to refugees: What factors are important? Social Work
Practice & Research 19 (3), 35-7. **Invited from the Institute for Social Work Research at Ewha Womans
University, South Korea https://doi.org/10.38082/SWPR.2022.19.03.35

Memmott-Elison, M., Yu, M., Maiya, S., Dicus, J.L., & Gustavo, C. (2022). Relations between stress,
coping strategies, and prosocial behavior in U.S. Mexican college students. Journal of American College
Health 70 (6), 1644-1650 https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1817035

Kim, Y. K., Yu, M., Moon, S., Maleku, A., Um, M. Y., & Tefera, G. (2022). Sociodemographic
characteristics, preventive behaviors, & mental health status during COVID-19: A case of social work
students in the United States. Social Work in Mental Health 20 (5), 578-603
https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2022.2047870

• Google Scholar
• Research Gate

Awards

• 2019 Distinguished Research Award, The University of Missouri College of Human Environmental Sciences
• 2018 Instructor of the Year Award, The University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program
• 2010 Instructor of the Year Award, The University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program
• 2009 Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching, The University of Missouri School of Social Work

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