William Klein

William Klein joined Rutgers from the National Institutes of Health, where he served for 17 years directing the Behavioral Research Program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) - providing strategic leadership in several research areas including health communication, psychological science, and health behavior. He also held an adjunct investigator appointment at the National Human Genome Research Institute, serving on the faculty of a joint NIH/Johns Hopkins graduate program in genetic counseling. 

A social psychologist, Klein studies how people process and respond to health information and health communication, especially information about risk—why individuals misperceive and avoid it and how messages about undesirable health outcomes can be communicated effectively. Most of his work focuses on risk perception and risk communication, information avoidance, and health-related judgment and decision-making. A prolific scholar, he has published more than 275 articles, chapters, and books and has received multiple honors including the American Psychological Association’s Meritorious Research Service Commendation.

His earlier academic career spanned 18 years at Colby College and the University of Pittsburgh, where he held leadership roles including department chair and director of undergraduate studies, and earned several honors including the Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award at the University of Pittsburgh.

Ph.D., Social Psychology, Princeton University
M.A., Social Psychology, Princeton University
B.A., Psychology and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences, Northwestern University