Susan Keys, PhD

Susan Keys, PhD

Susan Keys, PhD, is the Branch Chief of the Prevention Initiatives and Priority Programs Development Branch in the Division of Prevention, Traumatic Stress and Special Programs, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Susan Keys was an Associate Professor of Counseling and Human Services and former Department Chair at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Keys has more than thirty years of experience in teaching, consultation and management. She comes from a highly distinguished career in academia and in recent years has moved into public health with a specific interest in youth violence prevention and the evaluation of school based mental health and youth violence prevention programs. Prior to moving to SAMHSA, she was co-principal investigator of a NIMH grant on school violence prevention in 37 schools and five school districts in Maryland and Associate Director of Education at the Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence, a center funded by the federal Centers for Disease Control. Dr. Keys has led, developed, monitored, and evaluated statewide school mental health and youth violence prevention programs and developed educational initiatives in collaboration with state agencies, local communities and school systems. She has served as a consultant and collaborator with national centers, state agencies, departments and offices, local school systems, advocacy and consumer groups on mental health and school violence prevention programs, policy development, moving programs to scale, linkage of school and community resources, and training for schools, communities, and families. She is a nationally recognized expert in school counseling and school consultation is often a presenter at international and national conferences. Her professional colleagues have recognized her with awards for outstanding counselor education and excellence in teaching. Recently she completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health focused on children's mental health services research. Dr. Keys was also selected by Johns Hopkins to be a part of a select group of leaders who the University supports for leadership training and coaching.