Chenyu Zhao

Chenyu Zhao researches adolescent and global mental health. Her quantitative work uses nationally representative datasets to model how adverse childhood experiences, screen time, and environmental factors influence youth depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Alongside this, she is developing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) agenda to co-design and evaluate mindfulness interventions in partnership with organizations in South African townships. Her passion began while facilitating yoga and meditation at a Houston high school, where she observed how breathwork and movement practices support resilience. Immersion in South African NGOs further shaped her commitment to culturally grounded, relational approaches to well-being. Chenyu aims to work alongside communities to build interventions that enhance collective well-being. She believes research should generate tangible social impact beyond academic recognition.

In addition to her research, Chenyu teaches virtual piano, violin, and guitar lessons (10+ years), volunteers at equine therapy programs, and enjoys weight lifting, tennis, spending time in nature, and audiobooks. She previously taught yoga in Nicaragua, Ecuador, and South Africa through work-exchange programs.