Mitch Prinstein

About Mitch Prinstein

Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D, ABPP is the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Co-Director of the Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mitch also is the Senior Science Advisor of the American Psychological Association and the co-host of That Popular Podcast. For over 25 years, and with continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health, Mitch’s research has examined interpersonal models of internalizing symptoms and health risk behaviors among adolescents, with a specific focus on the unique role of off- and on-line peer relationships in the developmental psychopathology of depression and self-injury. He is a board-certified clinical psychologist and has published over 200 scientific manuscripts and 12 books. Mitch has advised/consulted with the numerous government agencies (e.g, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Centers for Disease Control, Federal Trade Commission, US Surgeon General’s Office, US Supreme Court), international agencies (e.g, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Economic Forum, World Health Organization), nonprofits (e.g, Common Sense Media, The National PTA), institutes (e.g, National Institute of Mental Health, National Academies of Science), as well as for-profit industries (e.g, Google, Apple, Johnson & Johnson), and the entertainment industry (e.g, David E. Kelley Productions, Impact Guild). At APA, Mitch served as the Chief Science Officer and then the Chief of Psychology. As Chief Science Officer, Mitch was responsible for leading the association’s science agenda and advocating for the application of psychological research and knowledge in settings including academia, government, industry, and the law. As Chief Psychology Officer, Mitch led the integration of APA\'s work in science, practice, education, and applied psychology. Prior to APA, Mitch served as the Director of Clinical Psychology at UNC and Yale University, the Director of Graduate Studies in the UNC Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Assistant Dean for Honors Carolina. Mitch is regularly featured as an expert in psychological science as a repeat witness testifying before the US Senate, in two TedX talks, and within hundreds of media appearances around the world in outlets such as The New York Times, 60 Minutes, NPR, the Times (UK), and CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Experience

1. Chief of Psychology (Integrating Science, Practice, Education)

   American Psychological Association

   Nov 2024 — Present

Education

• Brown Medical School

  Intern/PostDoc, Clinical Psychology

  1997 — 1999

• University of Miami

  PhD, Clinical Psychology

  1992 — 1997

• Emory University

  Bachelor's degree, Psychology

  1988 — 1992