Joyce Hunter, D.S.W., is a Research Scientist at the HIV Center and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatric Social Work (in Psychiatry) and Assistant Professor of Sociomedical Sciences, both at Columbia University. Dr. Hunter is also a member of the HIV Center’s Global Community Core. She is also Principal Investigator of the Working It Out Project (WIO), a community-based HIV prevention research project for gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents that utilizes an award-winning video and an intervention curriculum. This program, which Dr. Hunter co-developed with community members, addresses coming out, stigma, development of coping strategies to address stressful life events, and personal identity development. WIO is most recently being disseminated in high schools in rural areas in the Hudson Valley/Catskill Region of New York and throughout Sweden, through a Swedish national organization.

Dr. Hunter has been an activist, researcher, and clinician for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Hetrick-Martin Institute and Director and Clinical Supervisor of Social Work Services there, she co-developed a counseling program, drop-in center, and outreach project to street and homeless youth. She also co-founded the on-site high school program, the Harvey Milk School. Dr. Hunter has conducted clinical trainings for professionals and graduate students in HIV/AIDS prevention for women, youth, and families, combating homophobia for LGBT youth, reduction of high HIV/STD risk behaviors, best health practices for at-risk and HIV-positive youth, and needs of street, runaway, and homeless youth, working with racially and culturally diverse populations and families.

Dr. Hunter is a founding member of the International AIDS Women's Caucus (IAWC), and has coordinated activities at World AIDS Conferences for women’s and girls’ HIV issues. She is Past President of the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association and Conference Co-Chair of its annual conferences. Dr. Hunter is an invited member of the NGO/HIV Committee at the United Nations, where she contributes to policy papers and UN parallel events, presenting on HIV/AIDS and prevention issues.

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