Ryan Santens
- Contact
- 1700 SW College AveSchool of Applied StudiesRoom 309B
Topeka, KS 66621785.670.2126
- Degrees & Certifications
- Washington Univ in St Louis, Bachelor of Science
- Washington Univ in St Louis, Master of Public Health
- Washington Univ in St Louis, Master of Social Work
- Univ of IL-Urbana Champaign, Doctor of Philosophy
- Academic History
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Washburn University 2025-present
- Course List
- SW 325 – Person in Environment I: Individuals and Families
- SW 326 – Person in Environment II: Groups, Organizations and Communities
- SW 362 – Generalist Quantitative Research
- SW 621 – Quantitative Social Work Research
- Scholarly Interests/Activities
Research Areas
- Mindfulness-based interventions
- Human flourishing
- Health disparities
- Healthy masculinities
- Critical social philosophy
- Translational research (e.g., operationalizing aspects of the humanities)
- Implementation science
- Quantitative and mixed methods
- Community-based participatory research
Recent Conference Paper & Poster Presentations
Santens, R. L. (2026). Human flourishing amidst uneven social conditions: A mixed-methods feasibility and pilot testing of mindfulness-based eudaimonic wellbeing delivered in a community-based setting with disadvantaged adults. [Poster Presentation.] Mind & Life Europe. Theme: “Power and Care: Enactive Approaches and Critical Social Philosophy”. Barcelona, Spain.
Santens, R. L. & Rogers, W. A. (2026). Reworlding Ontologies through Transdisciplinary Contemplative Practice. [Paper Presentation.] 9th European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry 2026. Theme: “Global Flows, Connections, Dialogues and Collaborative Practices in Challenging Times”. Athens, Greece.
Santens, R. L. (2026). A phenomenological entry to the masculine grief-body: toward a healthy masculinity. [Paper Presentation.] 9th European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry 2026. Theme: “Global Flows, Connections, Dialogues and Collaborative Practices in Challenging Times”. Athens, Greece.
Ellison Keeler, C., Lydon, E. A., Santens, R. L., Mudar, R. A., & Rogers, W. A. (2024). Navigating Cognitive Challenges: Insights from the Everyday Needs Assessment for Cognitive Tasks (ENACT) study in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. [Paper Presentation.] Alzheimer’s Association International Conference: Neuroscience Next. Chicago, IL.
Recent Manuscripts Under Review/ In Revision/ In Preparation
Santens, R. L. & Rogers, W. A. (in prep). A mixed-methods feasibility and pilot testing of a new mindfulness-based intervention implemented in a community-based setting with disadvantaged adults: Mindfulness-Based Eudaimonic Wellbeing.
Lydon, E. A., Ellison Keeler, C., Santens, R. L., Mudar, R. A., Czaja, S.J., Boot, W.R., Charness, N., & Rogers, W. A. (submitted 6/26/26). Navigating daily activities with mild cognitive impairment: Characterizing cognitive challenges and response strategies.
- Career Accomplishments
Ryan Santens has a unique array of professional experiences that inform his research, teaching, and service. Working as a community organizer with the Sustainable Forestry Project and Oregon Public Interest Research Group and then as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Northwest Service Academy, he learned early on the importance of choosing work that aligns with one’s values and experienced first-hand the positive impact service to the community can have in building trusting multicultural relationships capable of bridging the divide across social, economic, and political polarities supporting people of diverse backgrounds to work together to achieve shared goals. These formative experiences influenced both his educational journey and his future career path.
Prioritizing interdisciplinary training, Dr. Santens earned his BS in Psychology, Master of Social Work, and Master of Public Health degrees from Washington University in St. Louis. Upon completion of the MSW-MPH dual degree program, he held administrative leadership positions with direct practice components serving disadvantaged populations as Assistant Director of Psychological Services Center, a research and training clinic in the Division of Clinical/ Community Psychology at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and as Provider Relations Director of Choices, a nonprofit care-coordination entity leading systems-level change for youth and families involved in the child welfare system in Illinois.
Observing gaps in the broader system of care, Dr. Santens completed his PhD in Community Health at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign integrating translational research and implementation science to guide the development of a new mindfulness-based intervention designed specifically for disadvantaged populations [i.e., Mindfulness-Based Eudaimonic Wellbeing (MBEW)] that can reduce stress while also promoting human flourishing in the midst of uneven social conditions. Building upon successful feasibility and pilot testing, Dr. Santens’ current primary research focus is to broaden dissemination and assessment of MBEW. Additional research interests include applications of mindfulness in the areas of healthy masculinities and grassroots systems-level social change.
Certificate of Teaching and Learning 2025-2026
Reginald J. Alston Award for Excellence in Community Health and Rehabilitation, 2025
Focus: Applying scholarly work to clinical and/or practical applications within the community
