Karina Walters

Karina L. Walters is the Katherine Hall Chambers Scholar and the co-director and principal investigator of the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute (IWRI; NIMHD P60MD006909) at the University of Washington. Dr. Walters has more than 25 years of experience in social epidemiological research on the historical, social, and cultural determinants of health among American Indian and Alaska Native populations as well as chronic disease prevention research (e.g., HIV, AOD, obesity). Dr. Walters received her B.A. (sociology) in 1987, her M.S.W. (clinical) in 1990, and her Ph.D. in 1995 all from the University of California, Los Angeles. After serving on faculty as an Assistant and Associate Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work (1995‐2001), she joined the University of Washington faculty in 2001 and became Full Professor in 2011. She has served as Director of the Doctoral Program (2003‐05) and as Associate Dean for Research (since 2012).  Prior to her career in academia, Dr. Walters was a community-based psychotherapist and served as Commissioner for the Los Angeles County American Indian Commission.