Background

Kathleen Williamson, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Research Associate with both CSCH and the Neag School of Education’s Department of Educational Psychology.
Her main research interests relate to the implementation of social, emotional, and behavioral interventions in schools. “We need to continue to expand the universal social-emotional well-being supports being provided to students, to reduce the need for more intensive supports,” says Williamson.

Williamson earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary & Special Education from Saint Joseph’s University (Philadelphia, PA) and is a graduate of Neag’s School Psychology program, where she earned her doctoral degree under the advisement of CSCH Steering Committee member Dr. Lisa Sanetti. Williamson completed her pre-doctoral internship in the Baltimore City Public Schools and worked as a practicing school psychologist in the Darien Public Schools (Darien, CT) for five years. She recently decided to go back into research and has been working with CSCH Co-Director Sandra Chafouleas as a Postdoctoral Scholar on different projects related to supporting student well-being. “I think I have worked with students at every level of the education system, from pre-school through post-secondary,” says Williamson. “In this new position, I am motivated by the opportunity I have to help support educators and strengthen the systems in which they and their students are functioning.”

Williamson’s interest in behavioral interventions was sparked by her work on a project during graduate school with Dr. Sanetti. She trained teachers in best practices in classroom management and supported their ability to implement those practices with fidelity. This experience led to Williamson’s passion for helping schools and educators implement social, emotional, and behavioral interventions more efficiently and effectively.

Involvement with CSCH

At CSCH, Williamson works on the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC): Think about the Link Project. She is working to disseminate CSCH’s WSCC Blueprints, which are tools to help schools put the WSCC model into action. “The Blueprints are incredible resources. They help school teams and administrators set themselves up for sustained implementation of whole child initiatives, with integration across practice and policy. I’m excited to see how schools use them to strengthen their work,” says Williamson.

Fun Facts

Williamson loves to travel. Some of her favorite cities to visit in the US are Seattle and New Orleans. Internationally, some of her favorite destinations have included France, Scotland, and Guatemala.

Undergraduate Researcher Jannell Brown interviewed Dr. Williamson and wrote this profile.