News

On February 23 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima, 20-year-old Marine and future IBS co-founder, Richard Jessor witnessed the iconic flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. After days of intense combat and personal injury from shrapnel, Jessor recalls the profound impact of seeing the American flag hoisted atop the mountain, a moment that bolstered the morale of U.S. forces and symbolized a turning point in the battle. Read more about Jessor’s recount of the flag raising with Bradley Worrell for CU Boulder’s College of Arts and Sciences Magazine.

Targeted violence can be prevented – if we have the right systems in place. That’s why Sarah Goodrum, research professor in the Prevention Science Program, has partnered with the CU Boulder Police Department. According to Goodrum, attackers exhibit observable planning behaviors and communicate their intentions prior to committing acts of violence. To address this, Goodrum has collaborated with CU Boulder Police to enhance early identification and intervention strategies for preventing targeted violence. These efforts strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and researchers, promoting a holistic approach to campus and community safety, and providing a model for other institutions to adopt.

Read more about this partnership on CU Boulder Today:

Room 155 was overflowing with visitors on the cold afternoon of Tuesday, January 28. Folks from across the University of Colorado as well as state and local government representatives gathered in the largest conference room at the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) to celebrate a momentous occasion: our new building name. 

The IBS building is now the Richard Jessor Building, named in honor of behavioral science pioneer and IBS co-founder, Dr. Richard Jessor. Jessor attended with his children, Kim and Tom Jessor, and wife, Jane Menken. Jessor was given an award at the event commemorating his decades of service to the Institute and commitment to finding solutions to society’s most pressing challenges. He remarked that the event “was the capstone event of his entire career.” 

The name change was approved by CU Boulder’s Board of Regents back in September 2024. A few months later, Dr. Jessor celebrated his 100^th birthday. Jessor was then honored by the City of Boulder with a designated “Dick Jessor Day” on December 19, 2024.

Read more about the legacy of Richard Jessor: 

The event began with an introduction by IBS Director, Lori Hunter, as well as commentary from CU Boulder Chancellor, Justin Schwartz. The event also featured flash talks from all five IBS programs:

• Director of the Natural Hazards Center, Lori Peek, represented the Environment and Society Program with her talk, “What Do you Do When the Earth Shakes? Earthquake Early Warning and Schools in the Western United States.”
• IBS Fellow, Jaroslav Tir, represented the Program on International Development with his talk, “Terror Attack Blame and the Rally Around the Flag Phenomenon.”
• IBS Fellow, Jessica Finlay, represented the Health and Society Program with her talk, “Cognability: How environments matter for dementia risk.”
• Director for the Population Program, Amanda Stevenson, represented her program with the talk, “How access to contraception impacts Coloradans’ lives.”
• Sarah Goodrum represented the Prevention Science Program with her talk, “A Comprehensive Approach to School Safety: Lessons Learned from Research and Practice. 

Representative Joe Neguse, a CU Boulder alum, also made an appearance. He affirmed his commitment to funding the important research at the Institute and CU Boulder at large. In addition to Neguse, IBS hosted a staff member from State Representative Gabe Evans of Colorado District 8, a staff member for State Representative Brittany Pettersen of Colorado District 7, and the senior policy advisor for the Colorado Lt. Governor Primavera. We also hosted representatives from the Boulder City Council and the Mayor of Boulder, Aaron Brockett. 

After the ribbon cutting, guests had time to explore the Richard Jessor Building and all 11 Institute programs and centers that call it home. Each floor featured different programs and centers, along with unique catering and an overview video. Notable attendees included several members of the Youth Violence Prevention Center – Denver’s “Game Changers”, a program initiated by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV). 

The success of this event is in large part to the excellent team at IBS, including Byung-Jun Choe, Meg Quiat, Tamara Tiner, Kelly Holguin and Lori Hunter. We are excited for the next chapter of IBS at the Richard Jessor Building, and we hope the event helps our community know more about the incredible work we do. 

A recent study led by Stephen Billings, associate professor of finance at the Leeds School of Business and IBS fellow, examines the impact of institutional investors converting single-family homes into rental properties. Focusing on Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, the research found that such investor activity leads to declines in property values by up to 2%, reduced property maintenance, lower voter engagement, and increased crime rates. Billings notes that as neighborhoods see an influx of rental properties, the transient nature of tenants can erode community cohesion and long-term investment in the area’s well-being. Read more about the study on CU Boulder Today:

Can access to greenspace impact mental health? A team lead by Associate Professor of Geography, Colleen Reid and PhD candidate, Emma Rieves, found a correlation between connection with nature, not just access, and improved mental health. Reid and Rieves’ study is unique in its focus on the subjective experiences of participants. They found that how much an individual believes they have access to nature and how often they engage with it play a crucial role in mental well-being, particularly in reducing anxiety. The study emphasizes the importance of designing urban environments that foster both physical access to nature and a sense of connection to it.

Learn more about the study with CU Boulder Arts and Sciences Magazine:

Federiga Bindi, IBS affiliate to the Program on International Development, and political science professor and Jean Monnet Chair at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, was recently asked to lead a conference on the future of Syria. However, events in the war-ridden took a turn shortly after the conference ended, leaving many experts stunned. Bindi shares more about her perspective on the current state of affairs in Syria and what we can expect going forward.

Institute of Behavioral Science Fellow and Sociology Professor at CU Boulder, David Pyrooz, has been contracted by the City of Aurora to evaluate the effectiveness of their SAVE program. SAVE, or Standing Against Violence Every Day, aims to curb youth gun violence through a focused deterrence strategy. The program involves collaboration among law enforcement, community leaders, and social services to identify and support at-risk individuals, and deliver consequences for continued violent behavior. Pyrooz is the Principal Investigator for the evaluation of SAVE. Jillian Turanovic and Pamela Buckley are Co-PIs, and Espitia Pierluissi is the GRA on the project.

Learn more about the SAVE program from Ryan S. Luby for the International Association of Chief’s of Police (IACP).

Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) Director, Beverly Kingston, recently shared about her journey into violence prevention for the Huff Post. Kingston recounts how she was bullied and harassed as a youth, which resulted in her leading a ‘double life’ and coping with alcohol. Her tale is one of many that reflect the consequences of youth not having adequate support through life traumas. Today, Kingston works to ensure young people have the support and guidance she never received. Kingston’s passion for preventing violence exemplifies the dedication Institute of Behavioral Science researchers have toward their work.

Learn more about Kingston’s incredible journey:

Director of the Natural Hazards Center and Professor of Sociology at CU Boulder, Lori Peek, has been studying the effects of disasters on children and families for decades. Her work highlights how successive catastrophes, such as Hurricane Katrina followed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, have multiplicative effects on vulnerable populations. Peek emphasizes that the trauma and challenges faced by these communities persist long after media attention fades, leading to chronic “toxic stress” with lasting health and developmental consequences. Through her ethnographic studies, she advocates for acknowledging and addressing these prolonged struggles to build resilience against future disasters. Learn more about Lori Peek’s incredible work in an article by Cody DeBos of the Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine.