Sara Whitcomb

Sara Whitcomb is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, affiliated with the Department of Student Development (SD). She holds a doctoral degree in school psychology from the University of Oregon (2009) and completed her predoctoral internship at the May Institute and postdoctoral fellowship at UMass’ PSC. Her expertise centers on mental health promotion, positive behavioral support systems, social-emotional learning, and behavioral consultation in schools. Dr. Whitcomb serves as program director, teaching courses on social-emotional assessment and consultation, and oversees third and fourth-year practicum coordination and supervision.

Her research focuses on culturally responsive mental health practices, school-based behavioral interventions, and equity in education. Notable projects include developing the Suicide Prevention Attitudes Rating Scale and exploring school psychologist workforce ratios. She advocates for integrating physical activity into mental health interventions and aligning classroom management with social-emotional curricula.

Professional contributions include authoring textbooks like Clinical Interviews for Children and Adolescents and co-developing the Strong Start social-emotional learning curriculum. Her work emphasizes systemic approaches to equity, teacher training, and leveraging school-university partnerships for organizational consultation in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

Dr. Whitcomb’s recent articles highlight themes like culturally adapted programs for Black youth, district-level mental health workforce development, and equity in school mental health screening. Her scholarship bridges research and practice, prioritizing scalable solutions for school-based mental health challenges.