Sheehan Fisher
Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion
Sheehan Fisher joined The Graduate School in Spring 2023 as the Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Fisher is an associate professor and perinatal clinical psychologist at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern. His research career focuses on the effects of both parents’ perinatal and subsequent mental health on infant/child health outcomes, with a specialization in the emerging field of paternal mental health. His aim is to reconceptualize parental mental health research to integrally involve fathers to differentiate both parents’ impact on child medical health and mental health. Dr. Fisher’s research dovetails with his perinatal clinical practice, including being the clinical director of the Fathers’ Mental Health Specialty Clinic. He also specializes in performance optimization for individuals in high-pressure professions.
In addition to research and clinical practice, Dr. Fisher focuses on public policy and advocacy to support perinatal families and ensure programs address diversity in family dynamics. He has been dedicated to addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) nationally and internationally, including his roles as a board member of the International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health and of the Marcé of North America. He has also written several “OpEds” on perinatal mental health and issues related to DEI.
Dr. Fisher is the recipient of the 2021 Marcé of North America Early Career Award for his research on maternal and paternal perinatal mental health and was recognized as one of the 2022 Crain’s Chicago Business 2022 Notable Black Leaders and Executives for his dedication to mental health within the Black community.
Dr. Fisher received his doctorate from the University of Iowa and was an intern and postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University before joining the faculty.