June 14, 2018 — Assistant Professor of Psychology Stacy A. S. Williams has been elected to the Executive Board for Trainers of School Psychologists (TSP), a national organization representing faculty members from both specialist and doctoral training programs in school psychology. TSP is committed to innovation and excellence in the training of school psychologists.  According to its mission statement, “The organization works toward this goal by examining current trends in graduate education programs, providing professional growth opportunities to school psychology faculty, facilitating communication with field-based supervisors, and supporting legislative efforts that promote diversity and excellence in training.”   

Dr. Williams has held a number of leadership positions in TSP.  In 2013, she was appointed membership coordinator, and in this role, she transitioned the membership platform to an online format and received a 2017 President’s Award for her service.  She was also active in planning the group’s annual conference recently held in Chicago.  In fall 2017, Dr. Williams was appointed co-chair of the social justice task force and is responsible for developing and delivering social justice training for school psychology trainers.  As an executive board member, Dr. Williams will have direct input in supporting and advocating for the needs of trainers at the national level.  Dr. Williams’ term will run from July 2018 to June 2021.

Dr. Williams joined the Psychology Department in Marist’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences in 2013.  Here, she teaches courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including Consultation in the Schools, Academic and Behavioral Interventions, Academic Assessments, Psychoeducational Assessment of Educational Disabilities, and Measurement and Evaluation.  Dr. Williams also served as a faculty fellow in the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership during the 2016-17 academic year.  A National and New York State Certified School Psychologist, Dr. Williams completed her undergraduate degree at Amherst College and received both a master’s and a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  

A practitioner scholar, Dr. Williams’ years of working with groups of K-12 at-risk learners in both urban and rural communities have given her clear insights into the frustrations, challenges, and joys of working as a school psychologist.  She has consulted with Instructional Support Teams (IST) in upstate New York and Bridgeport, Connecticut, working closely with school psychologists, general educators, administrators, and support staff integrating Response to Intervention (RTI) initiatives at the IST level.  She has also consulted internationally, bringing RTI strategies to rural classrooms in Jamaica, her home country.  Dr. Williams regularly provides training in social justice, creating inclusive classrooms, academic and behavioral interventions, data-based decision-making for teachers, and university/school partnerships.

Dr. Williams’ scholarship integrates systems-level consultation with instructional consultation, and she has extensive experience collecting and managing systems’ data and developing whole class or individual interventions.  Her teaching is informed by best practice, the needs of local and national communities, and the need to develop school psychologists and teacher candidates who will be successful in the ever-changing educational environment.