Henry Willis Completes Study on Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions
The Department of Psychology assistant professor lends his health equity expertise to a $175,000 effort of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
When the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) sought a leader for a study on how private philanthropy foundations can increase health equity funding at minority-serving institutions (MSI), Department of Psychology Assistant Professor Henry Willis answered the call.
It was a natural fit: Willis received his undergraduate degree from Howard University, and later was a RWJF scholar via a predoctoral fellowship called the Health Policy Research Scholars Program. Willis also was in an early career fellowship called the Health Equity Scholars for Action program.
Though Willis’ main research focus concerns Black youth mental health, he was also motivated to help given that the study’s findings could have a positive impact on his field of interest.
“While this is somewhat of a departure from my main research program, it is related to the health equity focus of my research,” said Willis. “Increasing representation in health equity research by increasing funding for health equity scholars at minority-serving institutions and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) should lead to increased research in this area and positive public health impacts for Black youth and Black communities.”
To fill in knowledge gaps, Willis asked Terrell Morton — who conducts research on Black student experiences in STEM and higher education, attended an HBCU, and went to graduate school with Willis — to join the research team, along with a graduate student who works with Morton, Autumn Rouse. After connecting through a mutual colleague, Willis also asked Mercedes Palacios, another clinical psychologist whose research includes using community-based research methods to understand the trajectories of newcomer immigrant youth, to be a co-investigator. She attended a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and helped expand the team’s network to other MSIs outside of HBCUs.
The research team delivered 45–60 minute, semi-structured Zoom interviews to 30 researchers and administrators from HBCUs, HSIs, Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). They asked them questions concerning what the RWJF and other funders could do to increase the number of MSI grantee awards that are given, what specific challenges applicants from MSIs face when applying for grants, and more.
“I found that the issues that limit scholars from MSIs' ability to apply for private funding and sustain research are multi-layered. Although private foundations can restructure their grant practices to better benefit the research infrastructure of HBCUs and other MSIs, this alone would not address the problem,” said Willis. “Addressing the problem includes providing more professional development support for scholars at MSIs, more grant administration support and training for offices of research administration at MSIs, targeted funding for community-based collaborations, and investments in ongoing relationships between MSIs and private foundations.”
Willis will be discussing additional findings from the study in the webinar that the RWJF will be hosting on LinkedIn on Tuesday, October 27 at noon.
“I hope people learn that investing in the health equity research capabilities of HBCUs and other MSIs is extremely important because they both produce the scholars that are leading amazing projects to reduce health disparities in general, and they also work closely with and deliver important healthcare innovations to the most underserved and vulnerable populations and communities,” said Willis. “I also hope they learn that it is critical to increase access to health equity funding for these institutions in this current sociopolitical climate given the cuts to federal funding, especially for research that focuses on health equity and/or marginalized communities of color.”
Published on Fri, Oct 23, 2026 - 7:51AM