Jennifer B. Webb, PhD

Jennifer B. Webb, PhD, RYT-200, is an associate professor in the Department of Psychological Science and the Health Psychology PhD Program at University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she directs the WE ARE MIND-BODY KYND Lab. She received her undergraduate degree in cognitive neuroscience magna cum laude from Harvard University. She went on to complete her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Southern California and postdoctoral fellowship training in clinical health psychology at Duke Integrative Medicine funded through an NIMH T32 PREMIER award. She completed her foundational yoga teacher training (YTT) through the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco’s inaugural BIPOC YTT and went on to become a certified prenatal yoga teacher following completion of the Essential Prenatal YTT program.

Webb’s research program is informed by a nondieting, weight-neutral philosophy on promoting wellness equity and body liberation among culturally- and body-diverse groups. A particular emphasis is placed on enhancing the integration, dissemination, and accessibility of evidence-based mind-body approaches (e.g., yoga, intuitive exercise, self-compassion, mindful and intuitive eating, mindful self-care, etc.) to strengthen embodied self-regulation, positive body image, and well-being among individuals of diverse and intersecting social identities during the developmental transitions of older adolescence, emerging adulthood, pregnancy, and the postpartum. Additionally, her research focus is further expanding to include the investigation of the intersection of disorders of the gut-brain interaction, and the experience of embodiment.

Webb’s noteworthy scholarly contributions have been recognized by an h-index of 25 and as a recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Leadership in Research Award by APA’s Committee on Women in Psychology. She has also served as a former principal investigator on a multisite NIH/NIDDK R15 AREA award and has collaborated on research evaluating the Be Real USA organization’s BodyKind body image curriculum among diverse high schoolers, as well as Rebecca Scritchfield’s Body Kindness self-help book with text messaging support, and Connie Sobczak’s self-help book Embody based on The Body Positive organization’s principles and curriculum with online peer support among diverse college women. Moreover, she currently serves as an associate editor for Body Image: An International Journal of Research, and on the editorial boards for Eating Behaviors: An International Journal and the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science.

Webb is an advisory board member for the Give Back Yoga Foundation, a community partner with the Yoga and Body Image Coalition, an ambassador for the Accessible Yoga Association, a member of the Scientific Review Committee for the Appearance Matters 10 conference, and a former member of the Scientific Program Committee for the Symposium for Yoga Research.