Personal Information:

I am Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology here at Northeastern University. My current research interests are an extension of my pre-doctoral training experiences in school psychology at Lehigh University and my post-doctoral training at the Research Center for Children, Youth and Families in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont. These interests center on children and youth with disruptive behavior disorders, particularly those with Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

There is a high degree of overlap between ADHD and more severe disruptive behavior disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder (CD). Studies examining different developmental outcomes for children with various disruptive behavior disorders have found evidence suggesting that early symptoms of ADHD but not conduct disorder CD are associated with later academic problems, while early symptoms of CD but not ADHD are associated with later delinquency. The primary long-term outcome associated with pure ADHD (i.e., ADHD in the absence of a more severe disruptive behavior or mood disorder) is academic underachievement. Although a number of children diagnosed with ADHD are also classified with a learning disability because of deficits in the acquisition of specific academic skills, it has been found that up to 80% of students with ADHD may exhibit academic performance problems.

My current research focuses on investigating the relationship between ADHD and academic achievement, and in designing and evaluating academic interventions to ameliorate these difficulties. This program of study is based on the assumption that basic research can inform practical research and vice versa. Further I estimate the value of my research by the degree to which it informs my practice of helping children with ADHD, and I find my practice truly informs my research. This is the approach to professional psychology that I relate to students in our Combined Doctoral Program in Counseling and School Psychology, which is consistent with the scientist-practitioner model of our training program.

Links:

My vitae

School Psychology Child Psychopathology Links

 

Current Teaching:

• CAPG 206 Learning Principles
• CAPG 345 Learning Problems

Interests Outside School Psychology:

Outside of my interests in school psychology I enjoy hiking with friends and family. I particularly enjoy climbing the Green Mountains in Vermont and the Adirondacks in NY. I enjoy reading history, particularly ancient history, and I juggle balls and clubs for relaxation.

Mansfield Chin, Underhill, VT with Sasha, 2005