Katie Eklund

Katie Eklund is an Associate Professor in the School Psychology Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Education. She holds dual roles as Co-Director of the Madison Education Partnership (a research-practice collaboration with Madison Metropolitan School District) and Co-Director of the School Mental Health Collaborative. Her expertise bridges academia and practice, with 10 years of prior experience in public education as a school administrator, psychologist, and social worker. She is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and licensed psychologist.

Dr. Eklund’s research focuses on school mental health, including universal screening for behavioral/social-emotional risks, culturally responsive interventions, trauma-informed practices, and school safety policies. Key projects include evaluating the Resilience Education Program (REP), examining threat assessment in middle/high schools, and analyzing state-level social-emotional learning standards. Her work emphasizes equity in mental health screening and intervention accessibility for diverse student populations.

Educational Background:

• PhD in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology (University of California, Santa Barbara, 2011)
• MS in Social Work (University of Michigan, 2000)
• BA in Social Work and Psychology (Valparaiso University, 1999)

Awards:

• APA Division 16 Early Career Research Award (2018)
• NASP Presidential Award (2015)
• Multiple early-career recognitions (2013-2010)

Advocacy & Grants: Her work includes federally funded grants analyzing school psychologist staffing impacts and Medicaid’s role in mental health service provision. She collaborates with policymakers to translate research into actionable school practices.

Labs/Teams: Co-leads the School Mental Health Collaborative and Madison Education Partnership, fostering partnerships between UW-Madison researchers and K-12 schools.