Biography

VALERIE SHAPIRO is an associate professor at the School of Social Welfare. She also currently serves as an analyst for the Social Development Research Group as well as the Devereux Center for Resilient Children.

Dr. Shapiro’s primary research is in the prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral problems in children and youth through the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of effective prevention practices, with a particular focus on: (a) strength-based screening and assessment, (b) whole-school and community-wide preventive interventions, and (c) coalition-based models for evidence-informed and participatory decision-making. She also investigates the infusion of social justice frameworks into doctoral education. Dr. Shapiro co-directs Berkeley's Center for Prevention Research in Social Welfare.

Dr. Shapiro's current research is funded by the Hellman Foundation. She was also named the recipient of the 2014 Prytanean Faculty Prize, recognized for demonstrated scholarly achievement, distinguished teaching, and success as a role model for students at UC Berkeley. She previously received the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Dissertation Fellowship and was recognized by the GADE for Leadership and Service to Doctoral Education in Social Work. Dr. Shapiro has been supported by institutional training grants from the National Institute of Mental Health as a Prevention Research Trainee and the National Institute of Health as a Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Trainee. She holds an LSW and is a Department of Education Certified School Social Worker.