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Bridget Dever

Dever Elected to Society for the Study of School Psychology

Bridget Dever has been elected as a member of the Society for the Study of School Psychology (SSSP). Dever, who serves as a Professor of School Psychology and the Associate Dean for Research, joins an elite, invitation-only cohort of scholars recognized for their outstanding impact on the field.

Recognition of Scholarship

Founded in the 1960s by the pioneering researchers behind the Journal of School Psychology, the SSSP holds a singular, prestigious mandate within the discipline: it is devoted exclusively to recognizing and promoting high-quality scholarship and research.

Admission into the society is highly restrictive. There are currently only 150 members worldwide, with just 4 to 5 individuals selected for induction each year. Membership is awarded based on a rigorous evaluation of a scholar's career, including:

  • Sustained contributions and originality in school psychology research.
  • Systemic impact on professional training, clinical practice, and psychological science.
  • Depth, breadth, and excellence of peer-reviewed honors and publications.

Continuing Lehigh’s Legacy of Excellence

Dever’s election further solidifies Lehigh University's standing as a premier epicenter for school psychology research. With her induction, she joins fellow Lehigh School Psychology professors George DuPaul and Ethan VanNorman as active members of the society.

This recognition also echoes the legacy of the late Ed Shapiro, a prominent figure in the field, former director of Lehigh's Center for Promoting Research to Practice, and a deeply active leader within the SSSP during his influential career.

Bridging Risk Assessment and Educational Resilience

As Associate Dean for Research, Dever embodies the "research-to-practice" philosophy that defines Lehigh's College of Education. Her investigative work focuses on early identification of risk and uncovering the specific contextual and individual variables that support student resilience. More specifically, her research interests include universal screening for behavioral and emotional risk, achievement motivation among at-risk students, and issues related to measurement and assessment in education and psychology.

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Samantha Shera

Shera Selected as Dissertation Award Recipient

Samantha Shera has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Elizabeth V. Stout Dissertation Award for her dissertation titled, “The Mediating Effect of Motivation between Academic Self-Concept, School Connectedness, and College and Career Readiness for Students with/at-risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders.”  Shera is a doctoral student in the COE's School Psychology program.