Psychology professor named Outstanding Community Leader

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Lisa Shirota, (808) 956-7352
Communications Director, Social Sciences, Dean's Office
Posted: May 7, 2015

Charles W. Mueller
Charles W. Mueller

Charles W. Mueller, a professor of social and clinical psychology in the UHM Department of Psychology, has been named Outstanding Community Leader by Mental Health America of Hawai‘i (MHA-Hawai‘i). The award recognizes Mueller’s work in advancing children’s mental health services through advocacy, research, training and direct services.

“Chuck’s tireless advocacy, passion for enhancing public mental health services, and dedication to improving the lives of Hawai‘i’s youth and their families are inspiring. His visionary leadership has been instrumental in advancing the quality of care and treatment of youth with mental health needs in the state,” said Psychology Chair Ashley Maynard in the College of Social Sciences.

Added MHA-Hawai‘i Executive Director Marya Grambs, "We are proud to honor Chuck during our tenth annual Mental Health Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, May 12, when we will celebrate leaders who have dedicated themselves to promoting mental wellness and improving the care provided to affected individuals. Chuck is an inspirational leader who has helped to greatly increase access to services and improve the quality of services for children and youth with behavioral disorders and mental health problems."

MHA-Hawai‘i is an affiliate of Mental Health America, a national organization comprised of more than 300 affiliates. Established 70 years ago, MHA-Hawai‘i advocates for the needs of people with mental illness and works to create awareness about mental health and wellness.

Mueller received his PhD in Social Psychology in 1981 from Iowa State University and his Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Training Certificate from UH Mānoa in 1988. His primary research interests focus on the interface of social and clinical psychology with an emphasis on children’s mental health service delivery (e.g., child and adolescent mental health systems improvement, treatment as usual, evidence based services), aggression and violence (e.g., effects of family violence, innovative treatments and externalizing behavior problems), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  

Since 2008, Mueller has served as co-director of the Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CCBT) at UH Mānoa. CCBT is a training, research and treatment clinic providing assessment and psychosocial treatment for youth up to age 18 who have a range of mental health difficulties.

The Palolo resident also helped launch the Research Evaluation and Training Program (RET), a joint learning and service collaborative with UH Mānoa and the State of Hawaii Department of Health-Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division. RET has been instrumental in establishing and supporting system-wide research and evaluation about Hawai‘i’s mental health services with a focus on developing and sustaining the efficient and cost-effective delivery of health services to youth and families.

Established in 1920, the Department of Psychology integrates the study of human and animal behavior from an evolutionary and biological perspective in relation to human social behavior. Students are exposed to scientific methods that contribute to an understanding of behavior in diverse social and environmental situations and providing them with a better self-understanding and appreciation of the diversity of experience.

The College of Social Sciences (CSS) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is engaged in a broad range of research endeavors that address fundamental questions about human behavior and the workings of local, national and international political, social, economic and cultural institutions. Its vibrant student-centered academic climate supports outstanding scholarship through internships, and active and service learning approaches to teaching that prepare students for the life-long pursuit of knowledge.