Nava R. Silton

Nava R. Silton, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at Marymount Manhattan College and Director of the Center for Health, Human Development, and Creativity. She holds a B.S. from Cornell University and M.A./Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Fordham University. Her work integrates psychology, education, and creative media to promote empathy and inclusion.

• B.S., Cornell University, College of Human Ecology (2002)
• M.A., Fordham University (2009)
• Ph.D., Fordham University, Developmental Psychology (2009)

Dr. Silton's research centers on enhancing sensitivity in children toward peers with disabilities, teaching social-emotional skills to children on the autism spectrum, and exploring the intersection of religion and health. Her work applies developmental psychology to real-world educational and therapeutic settings.

She has pioneered creative interventions such as the Realabilities Educational Comic Book Series and the Off-Broadway musical Addy & Uno, both designed to foster empathy, reduce bullying, and promote inclusion. Her recent publications and presentations (2015–2018) reflect a strong trend in using arts-based, multimodal curricula to shift children's cognitive attitudes and behavioral intentions toward children with disabilities. These works often combine comic books, puppet shows, and musical theater to create immersive empathy-building experiences in schools.

• Reader’s Favorite Award (Realabilities)
• Off-Broadway Alliance Award Nomination (Addy & Uno)
• 2018 Helen Bull Vandervort Alumni Achievement Award (Cornell)
• Social Justice Award (Fordham University)

Dr. Silton has advised student researchers and presented at national conferences including APA, APS, and EPA. She has secured recognition and funding for her innovative work, reflecting strong grant and program development skills. She has also consulted for organizations like Sesame Workshop, Netflix, and the Seaver Autism Center, demonstrating broad impact beyond academia.

She leads the Center for Health, Human Development, and Creativity, where she develops interdisciplinary programs that blend psychology, health, and creative expression. Her team has implemented school-based interventions and conducted evaluations of their effectiveness in changing children’s attitudes and behaviors toward inclusion.