Melissa A. Bray

Professor and Director, School Psychology

Educational Psychology

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Title:

Professor of School Psychology 

Academic Degrees:

Ph.D. University of Connecticut, 1997, Major: School Psychology
M.A. University of Connecticut, 1995, Major: School Psychology
M.S. Southern Connecticut State University, 1988, Major: Speech Language Pathology
B.A. University of Connecticut, 1986, Major: Communication Science

Areas of Expertise:

Mind-Body Health

Integrated Behavioral Health Care

Video Self-modeling and Virtual Reality

Stuttering

Selective Mutism

Biography:

Melissa A. Bray is a Professor and the Director of the School Psychology program within the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. She is a Fellow of both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. Dr. Bray is an elected member of the Society for the Study of School Psychology. She is licensed as a psychologist in the State of Connecticut, holds national certification in school psychology, state certification in school psychology, and licensure in speech language pathology. Since receiving her doctorate in 1997, she has published or has in press over 225 articles, chapters, and reviews in the professional literature along with many books; further she has presented over 175 scholarly papers at national and international conferences. In several studies on faculty productivity it was determined that Dr. Bray was the first or second most prolific contributor to the 5 primary journals in school psychology. Further, she serves as associate editor of the International Journal of School and Educational Psychology and has served as an associate editor of School Psychology Quarterly. Of interest, she is the co-editor of the first Oxford handbook of school psychology. She has also guest edited numerous issues of Psychology in the Schools including topics on video self-modeling, behavior disorders, positive psychology, statistical reform, childhood obesity, counseling, social emotional disorders, equity-based practice, and autism spectrum disorder. As co-principle investigator, she has secured over $2 million dollars in student training contracts. Of particular significance, Dr. Bray was the 2003 recipient of the prestigious American Psychological Association Division 16’s Lightner Witmer Award, the Division’s highest honor given to young scholars. She has also been involved in state, national, and international professional associations including service as Vice-President, Social, Ethical Responsibility, and Ethnic Minority Affairs, and President of APA’s Division 16 Executive Committee. Dr. Bray has also served as Division 16’s convention chair, hospitality suite coordinator, chair of the Division’s publications committee, and as a member of the conversation webinar series. She currently is D16 VP for Membership. Her research interests are in the area of interventions for communication disorders mainly stuttering and selective mutism, mind body health, integrated behavioral health care, and physical health and wellness, especially in the areas of asthma and cancer.  She was recently named, Trainer of the Year in Scholarship, 2023. 

 

Website:

Mind Body Health

CV:

Vita – Melissa Bray

 

Honors/Awards:

Fellow, American Psychological Association

Fellow, American Psychological Society

American Psychological Association Division 16’s Lightner Witmer Award

Elected member of the Society for the Study of School

Neag School of Education Outstanding Young Investigator Award

Associations/Committees/Outreach:

American Psychological Association

American Psychological Society

National Association of School Psychologists

International Association of School Psychologists

American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association