History
Professor Dewey Cornell became interested in the nascent idea of school threat assessment when he served as an expert on juvenile homicide for the 1999 FBI conference on school shootings. In 2001 he convened a research group at the University of Virginia to work with two school systems (Albemarle County and Charlottesville City Schools) to develop and field-test threat assessment guidelines. With input from a panel of national experts in violence risk assessment and prevention, the guidelines were refined and then published in 2006 as a 145-page manual, Guidelines for Responding to Student Threats of Violence, co-authored by Dr. Cornell and his colleague Dr. Peter Sheras. We began by disseminating what became known as the Virginia Student Threat Assessment Guidelines (VSTAG) in more than 1,000 Virginia schools, but soon found that there was interest in other states. During the past two decades, we have trained school teams in thousands of schools in more than 35 states and several Canadian provinces. See some recent evaluations from our clients. We have also provided training in France, Germany, and Sweden. We have conducted 2 field-tests, 6 controlled studies, a statewide assessment in Florida, and other correlational studies showing the benefits of this model. These studies are published in 25+ peer-reviewed scientific journals and are available for downloading. See our research summary. The research was conducted at the University of Virginia by Dr. Cornell in collaboration with his colleagues and doctoral students in clinical and school psychology. The second edition of our manual, Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines, will be available in September 2024. The team members/trainers listed below are outstanding presenters with extensive experience in school threat assessment.
Team Members A to Z
Dewey G. Cornell, Ph.D.
Dr. Dewey G. Cornell trained originally as a clinical psychologist to work with children and adolescents. An unanticipated opportunity to work as a forensic clinical psychologist inspired him to undertake research on adolescent homicide and violence prevention. In 1986, he joined the faculty of the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, where he now holds the Virgil Ward Chair as Professor of Education. At UVa, he led the Virginia Youth Violence Project to develop and disseminate evidence-based programs for preventing youth violence and creating safer and more equitable schools. Over the past 37+ years, he has authored more than 250 publications in psychology and education, initiated statewide school climate surveys in Virginia, and developed the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines. He has trained thousands of school-based threat assessment teams in the U.S. and Canada.
Education
University of Michigan
Ph.D., Psychology (Clinical), 1981
M.A., Psychology (Clinical), 1979
Transylvania University, Lexington KY
B.A., Psychology and Philosophy, 1977
Affiliations
American Educational Research Association
American Psychological Association
American Society of Criminology
Association of Threat Assessment Professionals
International Society for Research on Aggression
National Association of School Psychologists
Julie Amato, Ph.D.
Dr. Julie Amato is a licensed clinical psychologist working in independent practice in Pennsylvania. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2005. During her graduate training, she was a member of the Virginia Youth Violence Project, gained experience in threat assessment, forensic assessment, and work in a correctional setting. She conducted research on both adolescent psychopathy and gang affiliation. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and a post-doctoral fellowship in forensic psychology at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine. After working for 10 years in the area of forensic assessment, Dr. Amato developed a specialty in sports and performance psychology, which is the primary focus of her private practice.
Education
University of Virginia
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 2005
M.Ed., Clinical Psychology, 2001
Brown University
A.B., Psychology, 1999
Affiliations
American Psychological Association
Pennsylvania Psychological Association
Talisha Lee Bond, Ph.d.
Dr. Talisha Bond has practiced as a clinical psychologist since 2011and as a licensed school psychologist for DC Public Schools since 2013. In 2013, she started conducting developmental evaluations through Early Stages for preschool-aged children (DC Public Schools Child Find). She is currently school-based and works full-time at Van Ness Elementary School. Her work includes collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams as part of the Special Education process, facilitating the Response to Intervention Team, and consulting with teachers and families regarding social-emotional and behavioral topics. Dr. Bond is also a licensed clinical psychologist in Maryland and maintains an independent practice. She has experience working with children ranging from 4-18 years old, with a particular interest in preschool and elementary school-aged boys and girls. She has worked in a variety of settings including community mental health centers, an inpatient psychiatric children’s hospital, and schools to treat a range of disorders as well as provide parent and teacher coaching. Her doctoral dissertation identified school characteristics associated with dropout rates for Black and White students in 280 Virginia high schools. She was a member of the UVA Youth Violence Project research team for four years and contributed to research on the Virginia Student Threat Assessment Guidelines.
Education
University of Virginia
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, 2010
M.Ed., Education, 2006
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
B.A., Psychology and Sociology, 2004
Affiliations
DC School Psychologist Association
Loyal Tar Heel Alum
Megan Eliot, Ph.D.
Dr. Megan Eliot is a clinical psychologist and serves as the Clinical Director of the Integrative Trauma Program at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies. Dr. Eliot obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2009 and completed internship training at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, NY and postdoctoral training at The Stamford Child Guidance Center in Stamford, CT. Dr. Eliot has worked with children and families across school, agency, and hospital settings. As a graduate student, she was a member of the Virginia Youth Violence Project and worked on multiple studies related to school climate and school violence. Her doctoral dissertation on School Characteristics That Promote Student Help Seeking for Threats of Violence was awarded the 2010 Outstanding Dissertation Award by Division E of the American Educational Research Association. Dr. Eliot specializes in the treatment of trauma and is trained in multiple modalities to address trauma symptoms including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, EMDR, TF-CBT, GABI, and ARC. In addition to providing therapy and psychological assessment for children and families in her private practice, she consults with schools and pediatric primary care settings on the creation of trauma informed treatment environments.
Education
University of Virginia
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, 2009
M.Ed., Education, 2005
Columbia UNIVERSITY
B.A., English Literature, 2000
Affiliations
New York State Psychological Association
EMDR International Association
TERRI A. ERBACHER, PH.D.
Terri A. Erbacher, Ph.D. has practiced as a School Psychologist since 2000, serving as a school safety consultant working with all local school district school safety teams to address both suicide risk and threat risk. Dr. Erbacher founded her private practice, Erbacher Consulting Associates, PLLC, in 2014. Dr. Erbacher’s practice focuses on training, coaching and consultation on the topics of school crisis response, social media and youth mental health, trauma, threat assessment and all layers of suicide prevention, assessment, intervention, and postvention. Dr. Erbacher is a subject matter expert for the Pennsylvania Commission for Crime and Delinquency and has held many board roles across Pennsylvania. She was a Clinical Associate Professor of School Psychology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine for over 13 years, has written numerous books and articles, and was honored to have been named Pennsylvania's School Psychologist of the Year.
Affiliations
Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania, Crisis Chair
Delaware County Association of School Psychologists
National Association of School Psychologists
Pennsylvania Commission for Crime and Delinquency Workgroup
Suicide Prevention Alliance, National Advisor
Education
Temple University
Ph.D., School Psychology, 2002
M.Ed., School Psychology, 1998
Hofstra University
B.A., Psychology, 1996
James E. Feger, M.S.
Jim is a school psychologist with 25 years experience in mental health. His tenure in education is supplemented by an early career in clinical psychology where he served youth in residential, inpatient and outpatient settings. Jim directed a long-term, residential treatment program for adjudicated youth. From 1994-2000, Jim’s practice focused on adolescent psychodiagnostics and cognitive therapy at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital and Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. Led by a desire to work with youth in an early intervention framework, Jim returned to graduate school and completed his school psychology training in 2000. Over the next 13 years, Jim provided special education assessment, consultation and staff development services for Laurel County Schools. In 2013, Jim joined the newly formed Southeast/ South-Central Educational Cooperative as a regional behavior consultant. Jim is certified through the University of Kentucky as a trainer in Trauma Informed Care, and the National Council for Behavioral Health for Youth Mental Health First Aid. Jim chairs the Kentucky Department of Education’s LD Tables advisory panel, serves as KDE Liaison for the Kentucky Association of Psychology in the Schools and works closely with the Kentucky Department of Education in several capacities related to special education and mental health supports.
Affiliations
National Association of School Psychologists
Council for Exceptional Children
Association for Positive Behavior Supports
Kentucky Association for Psychology in the Schools
Education
University of the Cumberlands
Cert., Dir. of Special Education, 2006
Eastern Kentucky University
Cert., School Psychology, 2000
M.S., Clinical Psychology, 1992
Kentucky Christian University
B.S., Psychology and Bible, 1990
Sebastian G. Kaplan, Ph.D.
Dr. Sebastian G. Kaplan is an associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section) and Family and Community Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. Dr. Kaplan began his career as a special education teacher before returning to graduate school and obtaining his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia in 2005. During his graduate training, he was a member of the Virginia Youth Violence Project, where he helped develop the Virginia School Threat Assessment Guidelines. Dr. Kaplan provides individual and family psychotherapy, primarily with adolescents and young adults. He is also a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and provides training and consultation in MI. He is co-author of “Motivational Interviewing in Schools: Conversations to Improve Behavior and Learning” (Guilford Press 2016).
Education
University of Virginia
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, 2005
M.Ed., Education, 2001
University of Massachusetts
B.S., Psychology, 1994
Affiliations
American Psychological Association
North Carolina Psychological Association
Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers
Association of Contextual Behavioral Science
kendra massie, Ph.d.
Dr. Kendra Massie received her Ph.D. in School and Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Toronto and is a registered psychologist working in private practice in Alberta, Canada. Dr. Massie has over 15 years experience working with children, youth, caregivers, families, and educators in pediatric hospitals, public schools, a non-profit organization, and her private practice. Dr. Massie has specialized training and interests in counseling and consulting with caregivers and educators, family therapy, and enhancing caregiver-child relationships (i.e., attachments). She has varied experience in assessing and treating children with behavioral, sleep, mental health, and learning difficulties. She was also involved in research and interventions for families living with chronic health conditions such as cancer and kidney failure. Dr. Massie has followed interests in teaching and advancing the provision of clinical services by supervising and teaching psychology graduate trainees and school counselors. Dr. Massie has worked with school districts to adopt and utilize the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines. She is passionate about helping caregivers and educators better understand what needs may underlie the challenging and concerning behaviors of children and youth and how relationships can be used to support wellness, learning, and development.
Education
University of Toronto
Ph.D., School and Clinical Child Psychology, 2010
University of Victoria
M.A., Educational Psychology, 2004
University of Lethbridge
B.Sc. (Honours Thesis), Psychology, 2002
Affiliations
College of Alberta Psychologists
Canadian Psychological Association
Joseph M. McKenna, Ph.D.
Dr. Joseph M. McKenna has over a decade of practical and research experience working in school safety at the national, state, and local levels. Currently, he leads a portfolio of school safety work for WestEd, a national non-profit research and development firm. In this role, most of his work focuses on leading behavioral threat assessment implementation efforts for state and local partners
Prior to WestEd, Dr. McKenna served as the Executive Director of Safety and Student Support for Comal ISD (TX) where he was responsible for implementing best practices to ensure all staff and students had a safe learning environment, including building and implementing a districtwide threat assessment program. He also oversaw the district’s student support services department where he expanded the district’s capacity to support students by establishing a network of community partners, multi-disciplinary student support intervention teams, district-wide social emotional learning activities, and the integration of trauma-informed practices. He also later served as the Deputy Superintendent overseeing all district operations, including transportation, food service, maintenance, technology, safety/student support, and nursing.
Dr. McKenna also spent seven years at the Texas School Safety Center, leaving as the Associate Director. In this position, his main duties were to oversee the research and education divisions, including implementation of all legislative mandates and programming (i.e., technical assistance, training programs, and resource development) pertaining to school safety in the state of Texas. In this role, he supported the statewide rollout of threat assessment following legislation in 2018.
Education
Texas State University
Ph.D., Criminology, 2016
M.S., Criminology, 2013
Roger Williams University
B.S., Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology, 2011
Affiliations
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences American Society of Criminology
Sharmila B. Mehta, Ph.D.
Dr. Sharmila B. Mehta is Director of Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychology and Clinical Programming for Cambridge Health Alliance/ Harvard Medical School. Dr. Mehta obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical and School Psychology from the University of Virginia and completed her internship and postdoctoral training at Hartford Hospital-Institute of Living (IOL; CT). Dr. Mehta has experience treating youth with acute and chronic mental health issues, as well as assessment of risk of youth potential for violence in the context of inpatient psychiatric treatment. She has treated and conducted psychological assessments for child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients at Cambridge Health Alliance (MA; Harvard Medical School(HMS)) and the IOL, and has provided outpatient individual, group, and family therapy in private practice, at McLean Hospital (MA; HMS), and at Patriot Pediatrics (MA; Massachusetts General Hospital). Dr. Mehta also has particular interests in teaching psychology and psychiatry trainees and supporting parents grappling with their children's mental health issues
Education
University of Virginia
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, 2011
M.Ed., Education, 2007
Brandeis University
B.A., Psychology, 2003
mark muscat, M.A.
A former teacher, Mark Muscat has worked as a school psychologist and behavior intervention specialist for Michigan public schools for almost 25 years. He specializes in working with students, staff, and parents to address challenging behavior, including threats and acts of violence. Mark has been a leader in bringing the CSTAG model to southeast Michigan and has contributed to numerous threat assessments and safety plans. Mark has a background in special education, crisis responding, and other multi-tiered systems of support, including PBIS, trauma-informed practices, bullying prevention/awareness, and social emotional learning. Mark is a certified trauma specialist, as well as a CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) and ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) trainer. Mark has lectured at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Eastern Michigan University for over 8 years, teaching on topics such as behavior management, inclusion, mental health, and school violence.
Education
Wayne State University
M.A., School and Community Psychology, 1998
Western Michigan University
B.S., Behavioral Psychology, 1995
Affiliations
Crisis Prevention Institute
National Association of School Psychologists
Farah Williams, Ph.D.
Dr. Farah Williams is a licensed clinical psychologist, service coordinator for Child and Youth Services, and Site Director at Scott County Behavioral Health Services. Dr. Williams graduated from the University of Virginia in 2001, with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. She began her graduate studies in Clinical Psychology at the University of Virginia in 2003. As a staff member of the Virginia Youth Violence Project, Dr. Williams published a paper on student help-seeking to prevent violence, co-authored two book chapters on student threat assessment, completed her dissertation on parent attitudes toward bullying in middle school, and made substantial contributions to two statewide studies: one on suicide prevention training and another on high school safety conditions. After completing her doctoral training in 2008, Dr. Williams continued as a postdoctoral fellow at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children, where she also served as a juvenile forensic evaluator for the City of Richmond Juvenile Court. After completing her postdoctoral training, Dr. Williams returned to her hometown of Scott County and accepted a position as a Site Director and Services Coordinator for Child and Youth Services with Frontier Health/Scott County Behavioral Health Services. In addition to her administrative duties, Dr. Williams continues to provide clinical services, including outpatient therapy, crisis intervention, and psychological evaluations with a focus on forensic assessment.
Education
University of Virginia
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, 2008
M.Ed., Education, 2004
B.A., Psychology, 2001
BYRON WONG, MPA, CTM
Byron has an extensive background in the field of threat assessment and has conducted numerous workshops on school threat assessment for school districts in California, Ohio, and Louisiana. He has been employed as a peace officer since 1997 and assigned to a threat assessment unit for one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States since 2011. He has been awarded two Commander’s Commendations, one Chief’s Commendation, and a Commissioner’s Commendation during the span of his career. He has assessed, investigated, and assisted in excess of 5,000 inappropriate contacts/ communications, suspicious circumstances, and threats relating to elected officials. He has presented threat assessment training for numerous law enforcement agencies, staff of public officials, staff of the judiciary, the 2018 Sacramento Security Summit, Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) chapter meetings, and the threat assessment community. Byron is an ATAP Certified Threat Manager, graduated from Gavin de Becker’s Advanced Threat Assessment & Management Academy, and is certified in Infrastructure Protection by Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. Byron has also attended the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation and state level protection schools. Byron has served as an associate instructor at his agency’s protection school, a Promise Presenter for Sandy Hook Promise, and Director of Security for a large church in Northern California. As of 2021, Byron serves as the President of the Northern California Chapter of ATAP.
Education
California State University, Northridge
MPA, Public Sector Leadership, 2010
University of Phoenix
BS, Finance, 2008
Affiliations
Association of Threat Assessment Professionals
Frank J. Zenere, Ed.S.
Frank Zenere is a school psychologist and District Coordinator of Student Services/Crisis Program for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the nation’s fourth largest district serving over 350,000 students. Over the last 25 years, Frank has coordinated and assisted in the provision of crisis intervention support at hundreds of schools impacted by a critical incident or disaster. He has served on numerous state and national committees overseeing the development of school safety policies and procedures. Frank has also been active as a trainer and crisis responder at state, national and international levels. He has provided crisis response services in the aftermath of earthquakes in Turkey, El Salvador and Haiti, the tsunami in Sri Lanka, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on New York City, mass casualty school shootings, and youth suicide clusters. Frank responded to Connecticut following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where he provided recovery strategies for local caregivers. He assisted in the planning and delivery of support services following the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Frank also provided crisis intervention services in Orlando, Florida following the mass shooting at Pulse night club. He responded to Puerto Rico to assist the Department of Education in preparing to address the social-emotional needs of students returning to school after hurricane Maria. Frank served as a 10-year member and former chairperson of the National Emergency Assistance Team for the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). He has received three Presidential awards from NASP for his service to children and school psychology. Frank has written numerous articles for national publications and journals regarding his expertise and experiences, and recently spoke at a Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill regarding school safety.
Education
Florida International University
Ed.S., School Psychology, 1996
M.S., School Psychology, 1991
B.S., Special Education, 1986
Affiliations
National Association of School Psychologists
Florida Crisis Response Team