Faculty Directory

Jessica M. Black

Associate Professor

Chair, Children, Youth and Families Field of Practice

Photo of Jessica M. Black

Jessica M. Black

Ph.D.

Contact

McGuinn Hall 209

Telephone: 617-552-1866

Email: j.black@bc.edu

Education

  • B.A., U.C. Berkeley
  • M.A., Stanford University
  • Ph.D., Stanford University
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University School of Medicine

Research Interests

Educational Neuroscience, Neurodiversity, Innovation in Social Work Curricula, Dyslexia, Motivation, Positive Emotion, Spirituality, Neurotheology, Sleep, Mental Health, Translational Science, Educational Policy

Expertise

  • Children, Youth, and Families
  • Faith-Based Services
  • Mental Health
  • Neuroscience and Social Work
  • School Social Work
  • Trauma

In the News

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CV or Resume

Profile

Jessica M. Black, MA, PhD, is Associate Professor, Chair of Children, Youth and Families Field of Practice, Teaching Chair, and The Cell to Society Lab Director at the School of Social Work, md传媒国产剧 College. Dr. Black is an educational neuroscientist whose research centers on ways in which child and adolescent biological development is informed by surrounding proximal and distal experiences such as with sleep, family, school, and religion.

Dr. Black is dedicated to illuminating the strengths young people hold and share including humor, play, flexibility, and drive. She is at the forefront of championing efforts to fuel bridges between neuroscience and social work nationally and locally related to pedagogy, theory, and practice. She developed and leads the听Neuroscience and Social Work Certificate, the first and only training of its kind.

Dr. Black鈥檚 interdisciplinary emphasis in scholarship and teaching is informed by her formal educational background in psychology, education, and neuroscience, and her essential collaborations with esteemed scholars and seasoned practitioners in social work, ministry, theology, and psychiatry.

Select Grants

New Hampshire Department of Education Grant, Bureau of Student Wellness: Black (PI)
Dates: 06/01/2022 鈥� 09/30/2024
A Scientific Investigation of Student Wellbeing and Play-Based Intervention Programming in New Hampshire Elementary Schools听听

Science for Seminaries Grant, American Association for the Advancement of Science: Doyle (PI)
Dates: 04/01/2021 鈥� 10/30/2022
Role: Co-I
Neuroscience Education in Theology Training (NETT Project)听听

Academic Technology听Innovation Grant (ATIG),听md传媒国产剧 College: Black (PI)
Dates: 06/01/2020 鈥� 5/31/2022
Online Classroom Enhancement Project (OCEP)听听

Teaching and Mentoring Award (TAM), md传媒国产剧 College: Black (PI)听
Dates: 06/01/2020听鈥� 5/31/2021
Educational Neuroscience Toolbox for Higher Education

Faculty Research Expense Grant (REG), md传媒国产剧 College: Black (PI)
Dates: 06/01/2016听鈥� 5/31/2017
Biomarkers in Adolescent Development and Resilience听听

Ignite Grant, md传媒国产剧 College: Black (PI)听
Dates: 06/01/2014听鈥� 5/31/2015听
Using a Biopsychosocial Lens to Examine Risk and Protective Processes in Students with Learning Disabilities

Faculty Research Incentive Grant (RIG), md传媒国产剧 College: Black (PI)
Dates: 06/01/2012听鈥� 5/31/2014听
Prediction of Reading Achievement in Young Children

Select Appointments & Awards

Member, Task Force on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and Developmental Neuroscience, Council on Social Work Education (2019 鈥� 2022)

Editorial Board: Social Sciences听(2020鈥�); Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities听Research听(2020鈥� ); Education听Sciences听(2020鈥�); PLOS听ONE听(2019鈥�); Frontiers听in Educational Psychology听(2011鈥�)

Teaching Excellence Award, md传媒国产剧 College School of Social Work, 2016
Teaching Excellence Award, md传媒国产剧 College School of Social Work, 2015

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