Congratulations to Emily Tanner-Smith, PhD, selected as a Society for Prevention Research Fellow for her outstanding contributions to prevention science research.
The 2025 Recognition and Honors Committee, with nominations from the membership of the Society for Prevention Research (SPR), selected Emily Tanner-Smith to be a Fellow. Fellowship is an honor that SPR bestows upon a small and select group of members who have a particularly distinguished record of contributions in the field of prevention research. A distinguished record reflects a substantial body of work that has had a broad and significant impact on prevention science.
Friends and colleagues were proud to attend the event to show support in this meaningful accomplishment for Emily and the University of Oregon College of Education.
The Annual Awards Presentation was held Thursday, May 29 at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research held at the Hyatt Regency Seattle, Seattle, WA.
With the selection of Dr. Tanner-Smith, the College of Education's Counseling Psychology and Human Services department now has 3 SPR Fellows, showcasing the leadership of COE in the field of prevention science. Beth Stormshak, PhD was selected in 2023 and Leslie Leve, PhD was selected in 2022.
SPR Fellow Dr. Emily E. Tanner-Smith is a Professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services at the University of Oregon College of Education. Dr. Tanner-Smith holds the endowed Thomson Professorship in Counseling Psychology and Human Services and serves as Executive Director of the HEDCO Institute for Evidence-Based Educational Practice at the University of Oregon College of Education. She has distinguished herself as a leading scholar through groundbreaking methodological advancements, significantly transforming the way prevention scientists conduct and interpret systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Her pioneering research provides crucial insights into the effectiveness of youth behavioral and mental health interventions, directly influencing evidence-based practices and policy formulation.
Dr. Tanner-Smith's scholarly contributions include over 113 peer-reviewed journal articles cited more than 11,000 times, establishing her as one of the most highly cited researchers in prevention science methodology. Her extensive meta-analytic studies span critical areas such as digital games for STEM education, policies impacting English learners, school-based mental health initiatives, brief interventions for substance use, and juvenile drug treatment courts. These comprehensive syntheses have informed funding priorities at federal agencies such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and have significantly shaped U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations regarding adolescent alcohol screening and counseling.
With over $14 million secured in competitive external funding–including prestigious R01 awards from NIAAA and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), as well as grants from the Institute of Education Sciences and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention–Dr. Tanner-Smith's research consistently prioritizes inclusive, evidence-based prevention strategies targeting underserved youth populations. Her leadership of numerous funded projects demonstrates her deep commitment to actionable, community-relevant prevention research.
Dr. Tanner-Smith is also a dedicated educator and mentor, profoundly impacting the next generation of prevention scientists. She has developed and taught graduate courses in meta-analysis and quantitative research methods at both the University of Oregon and Vanderbilt University, delivered guest lectures internationally, and chaired over 30 doctoral dissertation committees. Her current mentees continue her legacy of meaningful research, exploring innovative interventions such as recovery high schools and school-based social-emotional learning programs. Her exceptional mentorship has earned recognition through a student-nominated mentorship award, highlighting her substantial influence on students' scholarly and professional development.
Her extensive service record encompasses editorial leadership, academic governance, and influential roles in federal agencies. Dr. Tanner-Smith currently serves as Associate Editor for Prevention Science and maintains editorial board positions at prominent methodological journals, including Research Synthesis Methods and Psychological Bulletin. She has guest-edited multiple special issues, reviewed for nearly 50 academic journals, and regularly evaluates grant proposals for major funding agencies, including NSF and NIH. Her appointment to the Institute of Education Sciences' STAT Team, participation in IES technical panels, and advisory roles on NIDA expert panels underscore her critical contributions to establishing rigorous methodological standards at the federal level. In recognition of her outstanding work in evidence synthesis, SPR honored her with the prestigious Nan Tobler Award for Review of Prevention Science Literature in 2018.
Through her extensive scholarship, methodological innovations, influential mentorship, and committed service at local, national and federal levels, Dr. Emily Tanner-Smith has made a substantial and far-reaching impact on the field of prevention science.