Dr. Erin Dowdy is a Professor of School Psychology in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) where she directs the School Mental Health Collaborative.
Dr. Dowdy’s research career and scholarly publications have focused on assessment for mental health and wellness. She is particularly focused on strengths-based and equitable screening practices to enhance school mental health. Dr. Dowdy has a record of past success at disseminating research in peer- reviewed journals and at professional conferences, and her research and collaborative work with schools, state, and community agencies has been funded by various agencies. She regularly supervises school psychology students in their clinical and research work and teaches courses in school based mental health. She is committed to training the next generation of school psychologists and diversifying the school mental healthcare workforce.
Dr. Dowdy joined the faculty at UCSB in 2007 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a Ph.D. in educational psychology and an emphasis in school psychology. She received her Ph.D. from a NASP and APA accredited program and she completed an APA accredited predoctoral internship at the University of Southern California/Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Prior to joining the faculty at UCSB, she worked as a credentialed school psychologist within Garden Grove Unified School District. Dr. Dowdy is a licensed psychologist in California, credentialed school psychologist in California, and a nationally certified school psychologist.