Dr. Shelley Hart

Shelley R. Hart, PhD, NCSP, is an Associate Professor at California State University, Chico in the Department of Child Development and a Research Associate with Johns Hopkins University in the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health. Prior to her PhD, Dr. Hart spent a number of years in the mental health arena working with severely impaired individuals in psychiatric facilities or transitioning to the community. Her desire to intervene earlier in the progression of mental health challenges led her to complete an MA in Education (specialization School Psychology) from California State University, Sacramento, after which she worked in the schools for several years. 

Her specific interest in socio-emotional development, particularly in promoting positive and successful educational experiences for children and youth with emotional and behavioral challenges, lead her to pursue her PhD. Dr. Hart completed her doctorate at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the Department of Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology, followed by an NIMH postdoctoral research fellowship in the Psychiatric Epidemiology Training program at Johns Hopkins University, in the Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Dr. Hart continues to maintain a Research Associate appointment with Johns Hopkins University (Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health).  Areas of study include longitudinal analyses of mood and aggression—particularly as related to suicide prevention and intervention, as well as longitudinal analysis of internalizing features associated with eating disorders.

Dr. Hart is lead author of the book “Identifying, Assessing, and Treating Bipolar Disorder at School”.  In addition to the book, Dr. Hart has authored or co-authored 20 peer-reviewed articles (with four currently under review), 21 articles or editorials not peer reviewed, 9 book chapters, and 15 local, state, and national grants.  She has 47 presentations at local, regional, and national conferences, as well as 17 invited seminars.  Topics for these scholarly endeavors are related to research interests such as general emotional wellbeing, promoting positive socio-emotional development, suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, crisis prevention, intervention, and postvention, mood disorders (specifically early-onset bipolar disorder), eating disorders (and disordered eating), and the intersection of socio-emotional development and education.   Most recently her work is looking at the importance of early adversity on development and the promotion of healthy parenting and relationships.  

Additional scholarly activities include being a) a Board Member of the Publications Board of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), b) a Contributing Editor for the Communiquê, Newspaper of the National Association of School Psychologists, c) on the Editorial Board of the Contemporary School Psychologist journal, d) a Commissioner on the Butte County Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Committee, and e) a member of the Butte County Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) Coalition.