Valerie B. Shapiro

Dr. Valerie B. Shapiro is an Associate Professor jointly appointed in Social Welfare and Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley. She co-directs the Center for Prevention Research in Social Welfare and leads continuous improvement efforts for the FEMA/SAMHSA-funded CalHope Student Support Initiative. As a William T. Grant Foundation Scholar, her work bridges prevention science, community coalitions, and systemic social and emotional learning (SEL).

Research Interests: Dr. Shapiro’s research focuses on the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of evidence-based prevention practices to promote mental, emotional, and behavioral health in children and youth. Key areas include strength-based screening (e.g., DESSA tools), SEL implementation at scale, and equity-driven educational reform. Her work emphasizes data-driven decision-making, coalition-based models, and addressing racial, socioeconomic, and gender disparities in SEL outcomes.

Scientific Awards:

• William T. Grant Foundation Scholar
• Phi Beta Kappa Inductee (2002)
• NIMH Child Intervention, Prevention, & Services Fellow (2013)
• Prytanean Faculty Prize (2014)
• Fellow of the Society of Social Work & Research (2017)

Advising & Grants: Dr. Shapiro mentors students and collaborates on projects funded by the Berkeley Faculty Research Fund, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Program, Stuart Foundation, and National Institute of Mental Health. Her research has inspired practice tools like the DESSA and influenced National Academy of Medicine policy discussions.

Labs & Teams: As co-director of the Center for Prevention Research in Social Welfare, she leads teams in developing scalable SEL frameworks and serves on the National Prevention Science Coalition and California Department of Education CASEL Collaborating States Initiative.