Join the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. at the Greenspun Hall First Floor Auditorium. Nicholas Barr, assistant professor of social work at the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, will present a talk called "Finding Calm: The Power of Mindfulness in Everyday Life." He will discuss how mindfulness practices can help individuals cope with stress. The event is free, open to the public, and will allow time for questions.

Barr received his Bachelor of Arts degree in comparative religion from Columbia University, where he studied Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. As a Princeton in Asia fellow, he worked in education and development in Laos before earning his Master’s of Social Work with a concentration in adult mental health at the University of California, Los Angeles. 

He then worked as a clinical social worker for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health for two years before completing his doctorate degree at the University of Southern California School of Social Work. Before joining the faculty at UNLV, he was a Cohen Veterans Network funded postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families.

Barr’s research focuses on enhancing understanding of risk and protective factors for populations with an elevated likelihood of traumatic experiences, like homeless young adults and military service members. His work includes intervention development and implementation leveraging principles of mindfulness to enhance resilience and improve mental and behavioral health outcomes in these populations. He holds certifications in a number of evidence based practices including prolonged exposure and cognitive behavior therapy.