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 .










