Chan Hellman

Chan Hellman CV (PDF)

Chan M. Hellman is a professor at the University of Oklahoma and Director of The Hope Research Center and has published over 80 research studies. Chan has presented his work on hope with TEDx and has provided invited talks in Europe, United Kingdom, and the Middle East. Chan’s research is focused on hope as a psychological strength helping children and adults overcome trauma and adversity. Chan is the co-author of the award-winning book “Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life” published by Morgan James. Chan was one of five invited workshops for Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit in 2021. Chan’s work was featured as a main stage presentation at the 2023 American Psychological Association convention. Chan has Co-Founded Hope Rising Oklahoma along with First Lady Sarah Stitt in their effort to make Oklahoma a hope-centered state. Chan’s work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and TIME Magazine. Chan Hellman and the Hope Research Center received the 2024 “Building Knowledge Through Research” award by the US Department of Justice – Office for Victims of Crime.

Chan Joined the University of Oklahoma in 2002 and is a Professor in the Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work. Chan is also the Founding Director of The Hope Research Center and holds an Adjunct Professor appointment in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences for the OU College of Public Health.

The Hope Research Center

The Hope Research Center is a student driven research and evaluation entity focused the framework of hope as a process that drives well-being. The Hope Research Center students partner with human service agencies to conduct outcome evaluations for children, adults, and/or families receiving services.

Using program evaluation as the foundation, students serve as PI or Co-PI on IRB protocols, are the liaison between the Center and the Human Service Agency, lead the evaluation design, data management, data analyses, and reporting of findings.  The primary goal of the Hope Research Center is to make research-based practice an experiential learning opportunity for students.

Sample Publications:

1. Pharris, A. B., Munoz, R. T., & Hellman, C. M. (In Press).  Case workers as a source of hope leading to perceptions of academic success for transitional age foster youth. Child & Family Social Work.
2. Pharris, A. B., Munoz, R. T., Kratz, J., & Hellman, C. M. (2023). Hope as a buffer to suicide attempts among adolescents with depression. Journal of School Health, 93, 494-499.
3. Hellman, C. M., Pharris, A. B., & Munoz, R. T. (2022).  Responding to Adverse Childhood Experiences: The science of hope as a framework for action. Advances in Social Work, 22, 1066-1083.
4. Pharris, A. B., Munoz, R. T., & Hellman, C. M. (2022). Hope and resilience as protective factors linked to lower burnout among child welfare workers.  Children and Youth Services Review, 136, 1-9.
5.  Munoz, R. T., Pharris, A. B., & Hellman, C. M. (2022). A linear model of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as drivers of lower hope mediated by lower attachment security in an adult sample.  Journal of Family Violence, 37, 671-679.
6.  Duncan, A. R., Bell, S. E., Salvatore, A. L., & Hellman, C. M. (2022). Psychosocial factors associated with dispositional hope, agency thinking, and pathways thinking in a homeless adult population.  Journal of Community Psychology 50, 3196-3209.

External Funding:

As of July 2018, the Hope Research Center has secured $1.8 million through local, state, and federal funding.