Dr. Dan Li is an Associate Professor of Health Promotion Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences. She is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed School Counselor in North Carolina. Before her current role, she served as a counselor educator for nearly six years, training both school counselors and clinical mental health counselors. Dr. Li views mental health as inseparable from physical health, social well-being, and the broader environmental and social contexts in which people live. Her current research focuses on mental health promotion, with particular attention to the cumulative effects of environmental and psychosocial factors on children’s health, development, and well-being. She has published extensively on counselor education and clinical supervision using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research, and she has co-led and contributed to multiple federal, state, professional, and local grants through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Fun fact: I’m rediscovering a childhood love by learning piano as an adult. It brings me joy, sparks inspiration, and gives me a deep sense of fulfillment and completeness.
Encouraging note: I’ve seen firsthand how early childhood education teachers place trust in my child, nurture his independence, and empower him to pursue what brings him joy. These experiences help shape a kind, curious, and resilient human being. I want you to know how important you are—not only in children’s development, but also in the lives of those around them. Your impact reaches far beyond what you may ever realize. Thank you for being an early childhood education teacher, and for bringing out the very best in children!
