Dana E. Boccio | Faculty Profiles

Diplomas/Degrees

Ph.D., Hofstra University (2006)

M.A., Hofstra University (2001)

B.A., Hofstra University (2000)

Licenses and Certifications

Certified in School Psychology by the New York State Education Department (2003)

Personal Statement

It’s such a wonderful feeling to be able to say that I love what I do. Teaching is truly my passion and I look at each lecture as a chance to share my enthusiasm for the field of psychology. As an educator, I pride myself on my ability to keep abreast of the empirical literature and convey this information to my students in a manner that fuels their excitement to learn more. My own enthusiasm for the profession comes from my diverse experiences, including my previous work as a graduate professor, full-time school psychologist, and staff psychotherapist in two college counseling centers. I have always found it extremely rewarding to help students take full advantage of their educational opportunities and assist them in overcoming obstacles to their success. I believe that academic achievement is fostered by the creation of supportive learning environments that promote open discourse and allow for individualized attention. Thus, in my teaching I strive to establish an atmosphere that favors scholarly dialogue and encourages students to ask questions and express their opinions freely and candidly. Maintaining an approachable and accessible demeanor is critical to uninhibited inquiry and I work to establish a spontaneous, collaborative, and creative educational environment in all of my classes. Learning extends beyond the boundaries of the classroom and academic discourse is not restricted to scheduled lectures and discussion. Thus, I encourage my students to conduct psychological research so that they may discover novel ways of applying their knowledge to real-world practice. I enjoy embarking on joint research endeavors with my students and routinely present at national conferences, often with my students as co-presenters. These experiences are extremely enriching for all involved and are vital supplements to in-class learning, especially at the graduate level.

Recent Courses

Clinical Interventions In School Settings

Consultation In School Settings

Counseling Techniques In School Psychology

Courses Previously Taught

PIA 101: General Psychology

SPY 614: Proseminar in School Psychology

SPY 613: Implementing School-Based Prevention Programs

SPY 710: Principles of Behavior

SPY 616: Consultation in School Settings

SPY 612: Clinical Interventions in School Settings

SPY 600: Ethics in Psychology and School Psychology

Specialization/Interests

suicide risk assessment, professional ethics, school-based consultation, functional behavioral assessment, cognitive-behavior therapy, counseling, clinical case formulation, and educational law

Research Interests

My research interests center around two important areas with practical implications for the field of school psychology: suicide risk assessment and professional ethics. Specifically, I have investigated the child and adolescent suicide risk assessment training practices of school psychology graduate programs, as well as the nature of fieldwork experiences in suicide assessment and intervention provided at internship placement sites. I have also recently developed an assessment instrument, entitled the Student Suicide Risk Assessment Protocol (SSRAP), to assist school professionals with the task of determining an adolescent’s level of suicide risk. My research on professional ethics has centered around factors that contribute to ethical decision-making by school psychologists, with an emphasis on the effects of decision-making models. I have recently conducted an investigation into the ethical orientations adopted by various school personnel in an attempt to explain administrative pressure on school psychologists to behave unethically in their role as student advocate.

Chapters

Boccio, D.E., & Jacob, S. (2022). Ethics, law, and advocacy. In S. Jacob, D.M. Decker, E. Timmerman Lug, & E. Diamond, Ethics and law for school psychologists (8th ed., pp. 299 - 311). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Articles

Boccio, D. E. (2020). Does use of a decision-making model improve the quality of school psychologists' ethical decisions? Ethics & Behavior, doi:10.1080/10508422.2020.1715802.

Breux, P., & Boccio, D.E. (2019). Improving schools’ readiness for involvement in suicide prevention: An evaluation of the Creating Suicide Safety in Schools (CSSS) workshop. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH), 16(12), 2165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16122165

Groth, T., & Boccio, D.E. (2018). Psychologists' willingness to provide services to individuals at risk of suicide. Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior. doi: 10.1111/sltb.12501

Boccio, D.E., & McDonough, E. (2018). Prospective school psychologists’ field-based training related to suicidality: A preliminary exploration of student and supervisor perspectives. Trainers' Forum, 35(1), 10-26.

Breux, P., Boccio, D. E., & Brodsky, B. S. (2017). Creating suicide safety in schools: A public health suicide prevention program in New York State. Suicidologi, 22(2), 14-25.

Boccio, D.E. (2017). Using ethical orientations to explain administrative pressure to practice unethically: A pilot study. Cogent Education, 4(1), 1345675.

Boccio, D.E., & Macari, A.M. (2017). Using the dead to teach the living: Making the classroom come alive with obituaries. Teaching of Psychology, 44(2), 165-168.

Boccio, D.E., Weisz, G., & Lefkowitz, R. (2016). School psychologists’ management of administrative pressure to practice unethically. Journal of Applied School Psychology, 32(4), 313-328.

Boccio, D.E., Weisz, G., & Lefkowitz, R. (2016). Administrative pressure to practice unethically and burnout within the profession of school psychology. Psychology in the Schools, 53(6), 659-672.

Boccio, D.E. (2015), A school-based suicide risk assessment protocol. Journal of Applied School Psychology, 31, 31-62.

Boccio, D.E., & Macari, A.M. (2014), Workplace as safe haven: How managers can mitigate risk for employee suicide. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 29(1), 32-54.

Boccio, D.E., & Macari, A.M. (2013), Fostering worth and belonging: Applying the interpersonal theory of suicide to the workplace. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 28, 234-245.

Liebling-Boccio, D. & Jennings, H. (2013), The Current Status of Graduate Training in Suicide Risk Assessment. Psychology in the Schools, 50(1), 72-86.

Schmelkin, L. P., Hoag, J., Liebling, D. E., & Kaufman, A. M. (2004), Effects of expectations about evaluation and peer recommendations on students’ ratings. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 98, 643-646.

Conference Presentations

Boccio, D.E., Maia, A., & Gonzalez, D. (2022, February). Barriers to school-based suicide prevention. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Boston, MA.

Boccio. D.E., Weisz, G., Lee., R., Sticht, J., & Robertson, E. (October, 2020). Ethical practice and advocacy in no promo homo law states. Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the New York Association of School Psychologists, Virtual Presentation.

Bartels, B., Boccio, D., Garruto, J., Jacob, S., Jones, N., Klose, L., Madigan, J., & Pearrow, M. (February, 2020). Problem solving with the Ethical and Professional Practices Board. Special session presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Baltimore, MD.

Boccio. D.E., Weisz, G., Lee., R., Robertson, E., Adams, E., McLaughlin, T., Raevis, N., & Goodman, M. (February, 2020). Ethical practice and advocacy in no promo homo law states. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Baltimore, MD.

Jacob, S., Madigan, J., Jones, N., Boccio, D., Garruto, J., Jeter, M., & Johnson, A. (February, 2019). Problem solving with the Ethical and Professional Practices Board. Special session presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Atlanta, GA.

Boccio, D. E., Breux, P., Adams, E., Spears, D., Raevis, N., & Surdi, K. C. (February, 2019). Improving school-based suicide prevention through the CSSS workshop. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Atlanta, GA

Breux, P., & Boccio, D. E. (2018, September). Improving school-based suicide prevention: The creating suicide safety in schools (CSSS) workshop. Poster presented at the NYS Suicide Prevention Conference, Albany, NY

Groth, T., & Boccio, D.E. (2018, April). Stigma and the suicidal client: Are psychologists willing to offer treatment to those at risk? Poster presented at the 51^st Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology, Washington, DC.

Breux, P., Boccio, D.E., Jones, M., & Graziose, E. (2018, April). Improving school-based suicide prevention: The creating suicide safety in schools (CSSS) workshop. Paper presented at the 51^st Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology, Washington, DC.

Boccio, D.E., Sapountzis, I., & Durham, J.I. (2018, February). Closing the divide: Exploring disproportionalities in schools. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Chicago, IL.

Armistead, L., Jacob, S., Jones, N., Klose, L., Madigan, J., Pearrow, M., Bartels, B., Boccio, D., & Garruto, J. (2018, February). Problem solving with the Ethical and Professional Practice Board. Special session presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Chicago, IL.

Boccio, D.E., Lazazzaro, N., & Mancini, S. (2017, February). Suicide and the disconnect between schools and emergency departments. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, San Antonio, TX.

Jacob, S., Armistead, L., Madigan, J., Pearrow, M., Provanzano, F., Bartels, B., Boccio, D., Garruto, J., & Jones, N., (2017, February). Ethical solutions: The ethics and professional practice board in action. Special session presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, San Antonio, TX.

Boccio, D.E., Banilivy, M., Breux, P., & Brodsky, B. (2016, September). Conducting suicide risk assessments in clinical and school settings. Special session presented at the NYS Suicide Prevention Conference, Albany, NY.

Wyman, P.A., Boccio, D.E., & Breux, P. (2016, September). Suicide prevention in school settings: Sources of strength and creating suicide safety in schools. Special session presented at the NYS Suicide Prevention Conference, Albany, NY.

Boccio, D.E., Weisz, G., Lefkowitz, R., Connolly, J., & Perri, A. (2016, February). Administrative pressure to practice unethically and burnout among school psychologists. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, New Orleans, LA.

Boccio, D.E., & Klose, L.M. (2016, February). Using professional skills to prevent and resist inappropriate administrative pressure. Special session presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, New Orleans, LA.

Boccio, D.E., Banilivy, M., Lazazzaro, N., Mancini, S., Cami, A., & Karch, K. (2015, April). From school district to emergency department: Obstacles to continuity of care for suicide prevention. In Paper presented at the 48th Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology. Atlanta, GA.

Armistead, L., Jacob, S., Provenzano, F., Pearrow, M., Madigan, J., Klose, L., Jones, N., Klein, E.S., & Boccio, D.E. (2015). From the ethics committee’s inbox. In Documented session presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. Orlando, FL.

Boccio, D.E., Karch, K., Grauna, M., Chuah, M., Cami, A., & Banilevy, M. (2014). Helping students survive the college years: Suicide prevention and intervention efforts at institutions of higher education. In Poster presented at the 47th Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology. Los Angeles, CA.

Boccio, D.E., Leibowitz, A., & Stern, G. (2014). Explaining administrative pressure to practice unethically. In Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. Washington, DC.

McDonough, E. & Boccio, D.E (2014). Evaluating training in suicide risk assessment, prevention, and postvention for school psychology graduate students. In Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the Trainers of School Psychologists. Washington, DC.

Boccio, D.E., & McDonough, E. (2013). On the frontline: Providing future school psychologists with field experiences in the assessment of suicide risk. In Paper presented at the 26th Annual Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference. Tampa, FL.

Boccio, D.E. (2013). Best practices in the assessment of youth suicide risk. In Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. Seattle, WA.

Liebling-Boccio, D., & Cortes, J. (2012). Do decision-making models improve the quality of ethical decisions? In Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. Philadelphia, PA.

Liebling-Boccio, D. & Jennings, H. (2011). The current status of graduate training in suicide risk assessment. In Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. San Francisco, CA.

Liebling, D. (2010). An integrated approach to the assessment of adolescent suicide risk. In Mini-skills workshop presented at the Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. Chicago, IL.

Schmelkin, L. P., Hoag, J., Liebling, D. E., & Kaufman, A. M. (2003). Effects of expecting to evaluate on teacher ratings. In Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association. Toronto, Canada.

Schmelkin, L. P., Kaufman, A., M., & Liebling, D. E. (2001). Faculty assessments of the clarity and prevalence of academic dishonesty. In Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association. San Francisco, CA.

Invited Presentations

Boccio, D.E. (2022). Using a decision-making model to resolve ethical dilemmas. Webinar for the Alabama Association of School Psychologists (AASP).

Boccio, D.E. (2022, March). Anxiety, depresion and mental health. Webinar presented to managers employed at the Triboro Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing in the Bronx, NY as part of the Managers’ Workshop Series, a program consisting of eight Zoom sessions related to the topic of mental health offered by WellU Psychological Consulting.

Boccio, D.E. (2022, February). Recognizing and coping with administrative pressure to practice unethically. Webinar for Schoolpsych.com, a NASP-approved provider of continuing professional development (CPD) credit.

Boccio, D.E. (2021, April). Stress management. Presentation for Syosset Wellness Week, Harry B. Thompson Middle School, Syosset, NY.

Boccio, D.E. (2020, October). Dealing with administrative pressure to practice unethically. Workshop presented at the Annual Conference of the New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP), Virtual Presentation.

Klose, L., Garruto, J., Boccio, D.E., & Jeter, M. (2020, August). Applying an ethical problem-solving model to social justice issues in the school setting. Webinar for the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

Boccio, D.E. (2020, June). Ethical issues in school psychology. Guest lecture for the University of Southern Mississippi’s school psychology doctoral program.

Boccio, D.E. (2019, October). Dealing with administrative pressure to practice unethically. Workshop presented at the Annual Conference of the New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP), Syracuse, NY.

Boccio, D.E. (2019, October). School-based suicide risk assessment, intervention, prevention, and postvention. Workshop presented at the Annual Conference of the New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP), Syracuse, NY.

Boccio, D. E., McIvor, T., McGinnis, A., Woika, S., & Garruto, J. (2019, October). Legal and ethical issues panel discussion. Panel presented at the Annual Conference of the New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP), Syracuse, NY.

Boccio, D.E. (June, 2018). Best practice recommendations for promoting suicide safety in schools. Presentation for University Track Preparation (UTP) Senior Management at St. John the Baptist High School, West Islip, NY.

Boccio, D.E. (June, 2018). Identifying and helping students at risk for suicide. Presentation for University Track Preparation (UTP) Student Service Team Members at St. John the Baptist High School, West Islip, NY.

Boccio, D.E. (2017, September). What school psychologists need to know about administrative pressure to practice unethically. Webinar for Division 16 of the American Psychological Association.

Boccio, D.E. (2014, May). Identifying, understanding, and assisting the anxious child. Roslyn Trinity Cooperative Day School, Roslyn, NY.

Boccio, D.E. (2013, December). Addressing youth suicide risk in the school setting. Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, North Merrick, NY.

Boccio, D.E. (2013, November). Suicide in youth: Assessment, prevention, and intervention in the school setting. Sewanhaka Central High School District, Floral Park, NY.

Boccio, D.E., & Macari, A.M. (2012, July). Suicide assessment and intervention. Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY.

Other Work

Ethics Advisory Bulletins for NASP:
Boccio, D.E. (2015). Preventing and resisting administrative pressure to practice unethically.
Boccio, D.E. (2015). A brief guide to teaching professional ethics in a graduate preparation program.

Professional Activities

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
American Association of Suicidology (AAS)