Department of Counseling, Clinical & School Psychology

Office Number:
  Education 2139

Phone Number:
  (805) 893-2703

E-mail:
  education.ucsb.edu edowdy

Erin Dowdy

Assistant Professor, Ph.D. (University of Georgia, Athens)

Emphasis:
School Psychology Credential

Research Interests:
Behavioral assessment and classification particularly early identification of child behavior problems; School-based mental health; Pediatric psychology; diversity training and culturally competent treatment

Biography:
Prior to joining the Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology faculty, I received my B.S. from Florida State University and my M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from The University of Georgia. Following completion of coursework, I completed an internship at the University of Southern California/Childrens Hospital Los Angeles where I received specialized training in pediatric and clinical psychology. Then, I received a California School Psychology Credential and worked as a school psychologist in a broadly diverse school district south of Los Angeles.

In addition to using research in my clinical practice, I have conducted research in the areas of behavioral assessment, specifically early identification of child behavior problems and classification methods. I became interested in these areas largely through research that indicated that the majority of children with severe emotional and behavioral problems were not being properly identified or treated in the school system. While at the University of Georgia, I became involved with the creation and validation of a brief school-based screening tool used to identify children at risk for behavior problems. I have presented research examining the potential bias of this screener and have been involved in a multi-cultural study examining potential screening methods for conduct disorder. In addition to my program of research in the area of classification, screening, and early intervention, I have recently conducted research in the areas of pediatric psychology and culturally competent treatments for diverse populations.

Recent Publications:
Dowdy, E., Mays, K., Kamphaus, R.W., & Reynolds, C.R. Roles of diagnosis and classification in school psychology. In C.R. Reynolds & R. W. Kamphaus (Eds.), The handbook of school psychology (4th ed.). New York: Wiley. 2009. [Book Chapter]

Kamphaus, R. W., Thorpe, J., Winsor, A. P., Kroncke, A., Dowdy, E. T., & VanDeventer, M. Development and predictive validity of a teacher screener for child behavioral and emotional problems at school. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 67(2), 342-356. 2007. [Refereed Journal Article]

Dowdy, E., & Kamphaus, R.W. A comparison of classification methods for use in predicting school-based outcomes. The California School Psychologist, 12, 119-130. 2007. [Refereed Journal Article]

Dowdy, E. T., Hendry, C. N., & Kamphaus, R. W. Clusters of child adjustment. In R. W. Kamphaus & J. M. Campbell (Eds.), Psychodiagnostic assessment of children: Dimensional and categorical approaches. New York: Wiley. 2006. [Book Chapter]

Kamphaus, R. W., Rowe, E., Dowdy, E. T., & Hendry, C. N. Classification and diagnosis concepts. In R. W. Kamphaus & J. M. Campbell (Eds.), Psychodiagnostic assessment of children: Dimensional and categorical approaches. New York: Wiley. 2006. [Book Chapter]

Awards and Honors:
Early Career Scholar, School Psychology Research Collaboration Conference, 2009
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, University of Georgia, 2005

Affiliations:
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
American Psychological Association (APA)
California Association of School Psychologists (CASP)
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
National Latino/a Psychological Association (NLPA)