LeWinn honored

Driven by a conviction that all children should have the opportunity to realize their full potential, Kaja LeWinn ’98 has dedicated her work to studying the neurodevelopment and mental health of the youngest members of society.

For her lasting contributions to this research area, LeWinn, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, received the Trinity College President’s Medal for Science and Innovation in October 2024.

Established by President Joanne Berger-Sweeney, the award recognizes individuals who have gained prominence internationally in STEM fields and who represent the liberal arts ideals of empowering humanity through the sciences.

Following the medal ceremony, LeWinn delivered a speech on the scope of her work, which integrates perspectives from epidemiology, psychology, and neuroscience to identify the modifiable physical and social exposures that matter most for child neurodevelopment and mental health in underrepresented and understudied populations.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Trinity with a major in behavioral neuroscience, LeWinn went on to earn a doctorate in social epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. She then was selected for the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars program.
LeWinn is a leader of several regional and national epidemiological studies, including the NIH-funded ECHO Consortium, which includes more than 30,000 U.S. children and their families. She has authored more than 130 peer reviewed publications, and her work has been featured in The Atlantic, NPR, Fortune, and other news outlets.

The President’s Medal for Science and Innovation Advisory Committee, which includes prominent STEM faculty at Trinity, leads the selection process and recommends highly qualified candidates to the president. Recipients are not necessarily graduates of the College but have made lasting contributions to their field.

Photo by Nick Caito