Melissa A. Bray

Melissa A. Bray is a Professor and Director of the School Psychology program at the Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut. She holds a Ph.D. in School Psychology (1997) and has expertise in mind-body health, integrated behavioral healthcare, video self-modeling, stuttering, and selective mutism. A Fellow of both the American Psychological Association (APA) and American Psychological Society, she has been recognized with prestigious awards including the APA Division 16’s Lightner Witmer Award (2003) and 2023 Trainer of the Year in Scholarship. Dr. Bray has secured over $2 million in student training contracts and serves as an associate editor for the International Journal of School and Educational Psychology.

Her educational background includes degrees from UConn (Ph.D., M.A., B.A.) and Southern Connecticut State University (M.S. in Speech Language Pathology). She is licensed as a psychologist in Connecticut, holds national certification in school psychology, and is certified in speech-language pathology.

Research interests span interventions for communication disorders (e.g., stuttering, selective mutism), pediatric asthma, cancer, autism spectrum disorder, and trauma-informed practices. She has authored/co-authored over 225 publications and chapters, guest-edited journal issues on topics like video self-modeling and positive psychology, and co-edited the Oxford Handbook of School Psychology. Her work emphasizes evidence-based practices in school settings, particularly through self-monitoring, mindfulness, and behavioral interventions.

Professional leadership roles include service as Vice President and Convention Chair for APA Division 16, membership in the Society for the Study of School Psychology, and active participation in national/international associations like NASP and IASP. Current initiatives focus on equitable practices, trauma-responsive assessment, and bridging physical/mental health in school environments.