Bret J. Blackmon, PhD
Associate Professor of Research
Contact
bblackmon@lsu.edu
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Bachelor's Degree: Psychology, Louisiana State University, 2004
Master's Degree: Community Counseling, Louisiana State University, 2009
PhD: Social Work, Louisiana State University, 2014
Dr. Bret J. Blackmon is an Associate Professor of Research with the LSU Social Research & Evaluation Center (SREC). His work focuses on program evaluation, applied research, workforce development, and helping organizations use evidence to strengthen programs and services. He has experience leading and supporting large-scale, multi-partner evaluations across health and behavioral health, education, workforce development, community resilience, and other human service settings.
Across his work, Dr. Blackmon is particularly interested in evaluating complex initiatives in real-world settings, where programs often involve multiple partners, changing conditions, and different organizational and community contexts. His approach emphasizes mixed methods, stakeholder engagement, practical data collection, and the translation of findings into information that organizations can use for learning, decision-making, and continuous improvement.
Dr. Blackmon has served as principal investigator, senior investigator, and evaluator on projects supported by federal and state agencies and national organizations, including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Louisiana Department of Health, and Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. His current work includes evaluations and applied projects related to energy systems, agricultural innovation, geriatric workforce development, behavioral health workforce development, and treatment court capacity building.
Prior to joining LSU, Dr. Blackmon spent ten years on the faculty of the University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work, where he also served as Associate Director. His broader professional interests include trauma-informed practice, crisis response, organizational and community resilience, and developing practical approaches that help professionals and organizations better respond to the people and communities they serve.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Gulf Research Program: Safer Offshore Energy Systems (SOES) Portfolio Evaluation. Principal Investigator, 2026-2027, $198,000.
Louisiana Highway Safety Commission: DWI Court Capacity Building Initiative. Principal Investigator, October 2026–September 2027, $99,680.
Louisiana Board of Regents: Statewide Collegiate Gambling Assessment. Principal Investigator, 2026–2027, $140,000.
Louisiana Department of Health, in collaboration with the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education: Shaping Futures. Senior Investigator, 2026-2027, $568,000.
National Science Foundation: Louisiana Energy Transition Engine—Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL). Senior Evaluator, 2024-2034, $2,000,000.
Health Resources & Services Administration: Louisiana–Mississippi Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Project (LAMS-GWEP). Senior Evaluator, 2024–2028, $5,000,000.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Climate Resilient Innovations for Sustainable Production of Rice (CRISP Rice). Senior Evaluator, 2024–2027, $10,000,000.
National Science Foundation: Louisiana Graduate Network in Applied Evolution (LAGNiAppE).Senior Evaluator, 2022–2026, $3,000,000.
Salgado, A. L., Kelly, M. W., Brown, J. M., Mason, N. A., Wilson-Kennedy, Z. S., Little, K., Robison, S. B., Blackmon, B., Burns, A. R., & Lagomarsino, L. P. (2026). Strengthening the STEM workforce: Outcomes from Louisiana’s post-baccalaureate program in applied evolution. Bulletin of the Society of Systematic Biologists, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.18061/bssb.6737
Blackmon, B. J., Lee, J., Bain, R., Brazeal, M., Williams, C. L., & Green, Y. (2022). Person-centredness in the workplace: An examination of person-centred skills, processes and workplace factors among Medicaid waiver providers in the United States. International Practice Development Journal, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.19043/ipdj.122.006
Gillespie, H., & Blackmon, B. J. (2022). Perceptions of evidence-based practice among juvenile justice workers from a detention facility located in the rural Deep South. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2022.2128707
Lee, J., Blackmon, B. J., Cochran, D. M., Kar, B., Rehner, T. A., & Gunnell, B. E. (2019). An exploration of posttraumatic growth, loneliness, depression, resilience, and social capital among survivors of Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Journal of Community Psychology, 47(2), 356–370. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22125
Lee, J., Blackmon, B. J., Lee, J. Y., Cochran, D. M., Rehner, T. A., Gunnell, B. E., & Kar, B. (2018). Community resilience, psychological resilience, and depressive symptoms: An examination of the Mississippi Gulf Coast 10 years after Hurricane Katrina and 5 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 12(2), 241–248. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2017.61
Robison, S. B., Mason, S., & Blackmon, B. J. (2025, November). Implementing and adapting evaluations in complex, shifting environments. American Evaluation Association Annual Conference.
Vasquez, M., & Blackmon, B. J. (2023, April). Trauma-informed behavioral change: Modern theories and practical applications. 20th Hawai‘i International Summit on Violence, Abuse & Trauma Across the Lifespan. Honolulu, HI.
Blackmon, B. J., Williams, C., Vasquez, M., & Green, Y. (2023, April). Integrating person-centered practice and trauma-informed care to support survivors with disabilities. 20th Hawai‘i International Summit on Violence, Abuse & Trauma Across the Lifespan. Honolulu, HI.
Brazeal, M., Blackmon, B. J., & Bain, R. (2022, October). Uncovering the “black box” of clinical social work practice by examining an integrated health program. 50th Annual Alabama-Mississippi Social Work Education Conference. Meridian, MS.
Lee, J., Blackmon, B. J., Bain, R. (2022, March). Culturally informed crisis preparedness and management amidst cumulative disasters on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. National Association of Social Workers, Mississippi Chapter Annual Conference. Jackson, MS.
Robison, S. B., Blackmon, B. J., & Rhodes, J. L. F. (2017, January). Variations in juvenile offending in the Deep South: Demographic, behavioral, geographic, and school-related predictors. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.
2022 Distinguished Researcher of the Year, School of Social Work, University of Southern Mississippi
2021 Certificate of Recognition for Excellent Mentorship of Honors Thesis, Honors College, University of Southern Mississippi
2018 Nominee, You Rock! Professor of the Year Award, Student Alumni Association–Gulf Coast, University of Southern Mississippi
2017 Nominee, You Rock! Professor of the Year Award, Student Alumni Association–Gulf Coast, University of Southern Mississippi