Kenneth A. Dodge, PhD

Each year the Child Mind Institute’s Scientific Research Council selects an exceptional researcher for the Sarah Gund Prize, in recognition of an outstanding contribution to child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology or developmental neuroscience. The award honors contributions either to clinical science or basic science. The award carries a prize of $25,000 and is presented at the Child Mind Institute’s Annual Child Advocacy Award Dinner. The award recipient, along with several other scientists selected because they have been influenced by recipient’s work, are featured presenters at our next On the Shoulders of Giants scientific symposium.

Kenneth A. Dodge, PhD, is the Pritzker Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University, where he founded the Center for Child and Family Policy. He is a leading scholar in the development and prevention of conduct disorder and aggressive and violent behaviors. His work provides a model for understanding how some young children grow up to engage in aggression and violence, and a framework for intervening early to prevent the costly consequences of violence for children and their communities.

Dr. Dodge joined the faculty of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke in September 1998. He is trained as a clinical and developmental psychologist, having earned his BA in psychology at Northwestern University in 1975 and his PhD in psychology at Duke University in 1978. 

As director of the Center for Child and Family Policy, he leads efforts to bridge research on children’s development with public policy in areas such as economic distress, delinquency, substance use, school dropout, early childhood education and child abuse.