Baiyang Li, M.S.W., they/them, is a Social Welfare PhD student at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Their research explores the intersections of mental health, chronic absenteeism, and race/ethnicity among children and adolescents. Using mixed-methods research grounded in bioecological theory, they examine how systemic and cultural factors shape school attendance patterns, mental health challenges, and intervention experiences, to advance more equitable and culturally responsive school–family–community support systems.

Baiyang’s scholarship includes leading a scoping review on mental health and chronic absenteeism in U.S. K–12 schools, with the manuscript currently under journal review, and participating in collaborative projects on BIPOC clinicians’ training and practice experiences, as well as immigrants with limited English proficiency and their access to telemental health. Their work has been published in Clinical Social Work Journal, with additional manuscripts in preparation.

Prior to UCLA, Baiyang worked in community-based mental health programs in New York City, providing counseling and psychotherapy in English and Mandarin to children, adolescents, and families. With more than 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience, they focused on depression, anxiety, school absenteeism, and family adjustment in immigrant and limited-English-proficient communities. Their earlier advocacy work in LGBTQ and international student communities continues to inform their commitment to equity-driven research and practice.