Nancy A. Lever

Nancy A. Lever, PhD, serves as Associate Professor in Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Executive Director of the University of Maryland School Mental Health Program, and Co-Director of the Center for School Mental Health. With over 20 years of experience, she is a nationally recognized leader advancing comprehensive school mental health systems through clinical practice, research, and policy at local, state, and national levels.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Dartmouth College, BA in Psychology (1991; Phi Beta Kappa)
• Temple University, MA in Clinical Psychology (1994)
• University of Maryland Medical System, Psychology Internship (1996)
• Temple University, PhD in Clinical Psychology (1997)
• University of Maryland School of Medicine, Postdoctoral Fellowship (1998)

Dr. Lever's research pioneers multi-tiered behavioral health systems emphasizing quality, sustainability, and trauma-informed care. Her work establishes family-school-community partnerships as critical for dropout prevention, student resiliency after civil unrest, and workforce development. She developed the School Mental Health Quality Assessment Questionnaire to standardize service evaluation.

Recent publications reveal evolving priorities: teacher/staff wellness, telemental health implementation, and national performance metrics. Her scholarship consistently bridges clinical innovation with systemic change, highlighting sustainability strategies for school mental health programs.

Accolades include:

• NIH Loan Repayment Award for Clinical Research (2004-2006)
• Baltimore City Mayoral Citation (2006)
• Paula U. Hamburger Children’s Mental Health Champion Award (2016)
• Dartmouth College Phi Beta Kappa and three departmental awards (1991)

She directs major grants including:

• Promoting Student Resiliency (U.S. Department of Education, 2016-2018)
• Expanded School Mental Health in Baltimore City (2007-2018)
• National Resource Center for Mental Health Promotion (SAMHSA, 2013-2017)
• Project AWARE-SEA (SAMHSA, 2014-2019)

Dr. Lever shapes national discourse as Planning Committee Chair for the National Conferences for Advancing School Based Mental Health (2001-present) and through leadership in the National Coordinating Committee on School Health and Safety and Maryland State School Health Council.