Kelly D Brownell
Professor of Psychology, of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases) and of Forestry And Environmental Studies

Departments & Organizations
Global Health Initiative: Health Policy & Systems | Social & Behavioral HealthSchool of Public Health: Secondary Faculty
Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy
Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center
Stress & Addiction Clinical Research Program
Biography
Dr. Kelly Brownell is Professor in the Department of Psychology at Yale University, where he also serves as Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health and as Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. In 2006 Time magazine listed Kelly Brownell among “The World’s 100 Most Influential People” in its special Time 100 issue featuring those “.. whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world.”
Dr. Brownell was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine in 2006 and served as President of several national organizations, including the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, and the Division of Health Psychology of the American Psychological Association. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the James McKeen Cattell Award from the New York Academy of Sciences, the award for Outstanding Contribution to Health Psychology from the American Psychological Association, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue University, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Rutgers University. He has served in a number of leadership roles at Yale including Master of Silliman College and Chair of the Department of Psychology from 2003 to 2006.
He has published 14 books and more than 300 scientific articles and chapters. One book received the Choice Award for Outstanding Academic Book from the American Library Association, and his paper on "Understanding and Preventing Relapse" published in the American Psychologist was listed as one of the most frequently cited papers in psychology.
Dr. Brownell has advised members of congress, governors, world health and nutrition organizations, and media leaders on issues of nutrition, obesity, and public policy. He was cited as a “moral entrepreneur” with special influence on public discourse in a history of the obesity field and was cited by Time magazine as a leading “warrior” in the area of nutrition and public policy.
Selected Publication
- Wilson, G.T., Franks, C.M., Brownell, K.D., & Kendall, P.C. (1984). Annual Review of Behavior Therapy, Volume 9. New York: Guilford Press.
Articles

Spring 2006
A new center to fight obesity
A decade ago, when Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D., first started attracting national attention, his critics called him a...

Spring 2006
Six at Yale named to Institute of Medicine
Six Yale researchers, five from the School of Medicine and one from the School of Nursing, were elected to the...

Autumn 2002
For some in public health, changes to chicken have been foul deeds, indeed
The role of chicken in the American diet has changed radically during the past two generations: what was once the...
Autumn 2006
Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D.
Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D., professor and chair of psychology, professor of epidemiology and director of the Rudd Center...

Winter 2004
Fighting the good food fight
With the pealing bells of St. Mary’s Church as counterpoint, a celebratory air prevailed in the seminar room of...

Fall/Winter 2004
Reunion 2004
Even as all the traditional trappings of reunion—the Friday evening clambake, the Saturday morning symposium and the...
Fall 2000 | Winter 2001
When it comes to diet, parents weigh in heavily with their children
A Yale study has found that children’s perceptions of their parents’ attitudes toward eating and weight have a big...




