Maria D. LaRusso

Maria D. LaRusso is an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut, specializing in child and adolescent development. Her work focuses on generational shifts in mental health, mindfulness interventions, and healthcare system challenges affecting children. She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has held prestigious postdoctoral fellowships at NYU and the University of Pennsylvania.

• **Education**: Ph.D. & M.Ed. in Human Development & Psychology (Harvard), B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies (Cornell)

Her research explores PANS/PANDAS disorders, school climate impacts, and children’s rights to healthy development. She has conducted fieldwork in Colombia through multiple Fulbright awards and presented globally on pediatric mental health challenges.

Recent publications address post-pandemic school outcomes, healthcare system failures, and family coping strategies with chronic illnesses. Her work bridges education, psychology, and public policy to advocate for systemic improvements in child welfare.

• **Awards**: 2022 Fulbright Scholar (Colombia), AAUW Fellowship, Multiple APA/IES Postdoctoral Fellowships

Dr. LaRusso collaborates with international institutions and engages in advocacy for vulnerable youth populations. Current research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to mental health equity and evidence-based interventions in schools.