Michael Lyons

Michael Lyons is an Associate Professor in the Clinical & School Psychology Program at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development. He serves as Program Director for Clinical & School Psychology and is affiliated with the Youth-Nex Center and the Sheila C. Johnson Center for Clinical Services. His work focuses on promoting student well-being through school-based interventions, particularly mentoring programs and mental health services.

Lyons holds a Ph.D. (2014), M.A. (2011) from the University of South Carolina, and a B.A. from the University of Michigan. He co-directs the Virginia Partnership for School Mental Health, addressing provider shortages through graduate student placements in schools. His research emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion, advocating for identity-based strengths in youth development.

Research interests include mentoring effectiveness, school mental health systems, and ecological models of development. Key projects examine telementoring, program heterogeneity, and family-mentoring interactions. His work appears in journals like School Psychology, American Journal of Community Psychology, and Applied Developmental Science.

Lyons is committed to bridging research and practice, collaborating with school districts to implement evidence-based mental health services. He prioritizes DEI in teaching, research, and service, encouraging trainees to align their work with these values.