Orion Mowbray
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Professor and Executive Director
River’s Crossing
850 College Station Rd.
Athens, GA 30602
Education
| Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | Psychology and Social Work | University of Michigan | 2013 |
| MSW | Social Work | University of Michigan | 2010 |
| MS | Psychology | University of Michigan | 2010 |
| MA | Sociology | Eastern Michigan University | 2008 |
| BS | Psychology | University of Michigan | 2004 |
Editorial Appointments
| Position | Name of Journal | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Editor in Chief | Journal of Evidence Based Social Work | 2023 - present |
| Associate Editor | Social Work and Mental Health | 2025 - present |
Current Research
My research focuses on behavioral health, substance use, and justice-involved populations, with an emphasis on how services are accessed, delivered, and improved in real-world systems. I currently study integrated mental health and substance use services, peer support models, supervision and reentry in justice settings, workforce development, and high-risk transition periods such as release from incarceration or discharge from psychiatric hospitalization, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to inform policy and practice.
Job Description
I serve as Executive Director of the David Ralston Institute for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, leading its statewide impact in behavioral health, workforce development, and knowledge translation. I am also a faculty member in Human Development and Family Science in UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences, where I mentor students and advance research on the consequences of mental health and substance use for vulnerable populations. My research helps shape policy and practice, by improving outcomes for individuals experiencing mental health challenges and those involved in the justice system.
Publications
Selected recent publications:
Fatehi, M., Mowbray, O. (2026). Medications for opioid use disorder treatment, treatment length, and treatment completion among emerging adults: The moderating role of age and sex. Substance Use & Misuse (In press).
Hong, C., Pushpanadh, S., Wang, Y., Mowbray, O., Manuel, J. I., & Graham, S. M. (2025). HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among People with Criminal Justice Involvement in the United States: A Systematic Review. AIDS Patient Care and STDs (In press).
O'Shields, J., Soni, H., & Mowbray, O. (2025). Using social risk factors to predict allostatic biotypes of depression: A latent profile and multinomial regression analysis. Brain Behavior and Immunity (In press).
Graves, B. D., Mowbray, O., Aletraris, L., Shannon, S., Atkin-Plunk, C. A., & Pettus, C. (2025). Service utilization patterns and psychological distress among formerly incarcerated individuals: A latent class and longitudinal mixed effects analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior (In press).
O'Shields, J., Slavich, G. M., Mowbray, O. (2025). Diagnosis of depression in adolescence signals improved inflammatory health in adulthood: Results from a nationally representative longitudinal study. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, (In press).
Graves, B. D., Mowbray, O., Fatehi, M., Kunz-Lomelin, A., Robinson, M.,A., Atkin-Plunk, C. & Snow, S., (2025). Impact of forensic peer support on probation and parole outcomes. Psychiatric Services. (In press).
Kim, S., Kim, I., Lee, G., Oh, H., & Mowbray, O. (2025). Social determinants and the role of school-based mental health services in adolescents' depressive symptoms and happiness. Health & Social Work. (In press).
Graves, B. D., Mowbray, O., Aletraris, L., & O’Shields, J. D. (2025). An analysis of sixteen-year trends in cannabis use disorder treatment utilization. Substance Use & Misuse. (In press).
O’Shields, J., Slavich, G. M., & Mowbray, O. (2025). Adverse Childhood Experiences, Inflammation, and Depression: Evidence of Sex- and Stressor-Specific Effects in a Nationally Representative Longitudinal Sample of U.S. Adolescents. Psychological Medicine (In press).