Melissa L. Villodas, PhD, LMSW, LCSW-A

Dr. Villodas’ research centers on understanding how social determinants of health impact the mental health of vulnerable young people and how to address this through programs and initiatives at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Dr. Villodas investigates various environments such as neighborhoods, public housing, and schools, delving into topics like suicidality, trauma exposure, and mental health symptoms and outcomes. Her research focus encompasses three key areas: (1) Neighborhood Environment and Social Determinants of Health, (2) Policy, Systemic, and Community Influences on Mental Health and Well-Being, and (3) Mental Health Interventions and Support Services.

Leveraging diverse quantitative and qualitative methods, she values collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and community partners to develop and evaluate interventions addressing complex social issues. Dr. Villodas is a licensed social worker in New York, North Carolina, and Virginia, and possesses clinical experience working with youth in foster care and individuals across the lifespan in community healthcare and telehealth settings. She is also the principal investigator of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program CWSP in partnership with the Virginia Department of Social Services and funded through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, which prepares social work students for a career in public child welfare.

Dr. Villodas teaches Foundations of Direct Practice, Community Practice Across the Life Course, and Psychopathology. She is a graduate of Nyack College (BA in English Writing), New York University (MSW) and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (PhD).

Research Interests:

• Neighborhood and Social Determinants of Health
• Mental Health Disparities and Interventions
• Policy, Systemic, and Community Influences on Mental Health
• Youth and Young Adult Welfare and Justice
• Social Connectedness

Select Publications:

1. Villodas, M.L., Lee, J., Gimm, G. & Pilkerton, C.* (2026). At the Intersection of Disability and Transitioning to Adulthood: Service Receipt by Disability Status among Foster Youth. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.108805
2. Villodas, M.L., Enemalah, N.V., Cole, A., Foell, A., Forte, A., Newransky, C., Rodriguez, C.N.*, Yu, M., Nebbitt, V.E. & Lombe, M. (2025). Exploring associations between neighborhood amenities and mental health: Insights from parent reports of older youth in low-income households. Wellbeing, Space & Society. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2025.100317
3. Banya, M., Villodas, M. L., Rodwin, A. H., Shimizu, R., Moore, K. L., Magan, I. M., Sapiro, B. & Munson, M. R. (2025). Social support among minoritized emerging adults with serious psychological health issues. Emerging Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968251399938
4. Gimm, G., Cheatham, L. P., Lee, J., & Villodas, M. (2025). All transition-age foster youth, especially those with disabilities, need continuous Medicaid coverage. Health Affairs Forefront. https://doi.org/10.1377/forefront.20250122.417423
5. Pitzer, K.A., Foell, A., Nebbit, V.N., Lombe, M., Yu, M., Villodas, M.L., Enelamah, N. (2024). Anxiety sensitivity among Black youth: A cross-sectional analysis of the direct and indirect effects of community violence exposure, neighborhood risk, parenting practices, and peer effects. Journal of the National Medical Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2024.07.005
6. Villodas, M.L., Foell, A., Smith, L.C., Yu, M., McCoy, H., Yang, Y., Enelamah, N.V., Lombe, M. & Nebbitt, V. (2024). Psychometric Properties of the Modified Parenting Attitudes Measure Among African American Adolescents in Public Housing. Journal of Child and Family Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02871-6
7. Villodas, M.L., Blank Wilson, A., Ansong, D., Munson, M. Clark Goings, T. & Nebbit, V. (2023). Examining the Influence of Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Connectedness on the Mental Health Symptoms of Black Adolescent Serious Offenders. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-023-00942-z
8. Villodas, M.L. (2024) Suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury: A narrative review of measurement, risk, and disparities among minoritized and system-involved youth in the USA. Children, 11, 466. https://doi.org/10.3390/ children11040466  
9. Enelamah, N.V., Lombe, M., Yu, M., Villodas, M.L., Foell, A., Newransky, C., Smith, L.C., & Nebbitt, V. (2023). Structural and Intermediary Social Determinants of Health and the Emotional and Behavioral Health of US Children. Children 10, 1100. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071100  
10. Villodas, M. L., Forte, A. B., & Blank Wilson, A. (2023). Examining the Influence of the Neighborhood Environment on Stress Among Black American Adolescents: A Scoping Review. Youth & Society, 56(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X231179243

Degrees:

• PhD, Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2022
• MSW, Social Work, New York University, 2015
• BA, English Writing, Nyack College, 2012