Stories help us make sense of the world, give us hope when we feel down, give us wonder and excitement when our lives seem ordinary, and help us fi
Dr. Maurice J. Elias
Dr. Maurice J. Elias

Maurice J. Elias, Ph.D., is a professor and the director of clinical training in the Department of Psychology, Rutgers University; academic director of Rutgers' Civic Engagement and Service Education Partnerships Program (engage.rutgers.edu); coordinator of Rutgers' Internship Program in Applied, School, and Community Psychology; past president of the international Society for Community Research and Action/Division of Community Psychology (27) of APA; director of Rutgers' Social-Emotional Learning Lab; coordinator of Improving School Climate for Academic and Life Success at Rutgers' Center for Applied Psychology; and founding member of the leadership team for the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (www.CASEL.org). He has been elected as a fellow in five divisions of the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists. Dr. Elias is a past winner of the Lela Rowland Prevention Award, the Ernest McMahon Class of 1930 Award for service to New Jersey, and the American Psychological Association/Society for Community Research and Action's Distinguished Contribution to Practice and Ethnic Minority Mentoring awards. He lectures nationally and internationally, has been featured on numerous television and radio programs, and is frequently sought out as an expert for articles in magazines and newspapers. He has written an award-winning weekly parenting column, most recently for the Sunday Newark Star-Ledger's Family Accent section. His books include Research Press's Social Decision Making/Social Problem Solving curricula for elementary and middle school students, Emotionally Intelligent Parenting (Random House, 2000), Bullying, Peer Harassment, and Victimization in the Schools: The Next Generation of Prevention (Haworth, 2003), (Research Press, 2006), The Educator's Guide to Emotional Intelligence and Academic Achievement: Social-Emotional Learning in the Classroom (Corwin, 2006), Bullying, Victimization, and Peer Harassment: A Handbook of Prevention and Intervention (Taylor & Francis, 2007), Urban Dreams: Stories of Hope, Character, and Resilience (Hamilton Books, 2008,), and School Climate: Building Safe, Supportive and Engaging Classrooms and Schools. (National Professional Resources, 2011). He writes a blog on social-emotional and character development for the George Lucas Educational Foundation at www.edutopia.org.
In the video below, Research Press author Maurice Elias discusses the positive impact of promoting social emotional learning (SEL) and character development with Christopher De Michele at Rutgers University (you may also view the 48-minute interview and discussion at vimeo.com):
Training and Workshops
In-service training, consultation, or workshops by the developers of the SDM/SPS program can be provided for your school, facility, or organization. For more information and available dates, please contact:
Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care Behavioral Research and Training Institute
151 Centennial Avenue
Suite 1140
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone: (732)-235-9280
E-Mail: spsweb@ubhc.rutgers.edu
Website: www.ubhc.rutgers.edu/sdm/services
Books by Author
Evidence-based and award winning, the SDM/SPS curriculum is a classroom-based program that helps students learn the skills they need to succeed in
This manual is an approved Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program.
Developed over three decades of implementation in a wide range of schools, this research-validated curriculum focuses on teaching students to be re
Developed over three decades of implementation in a wide range of schools, this research-validated curriculum focuses on teaching students to be re
Developed over three decades of implementation in a wide range of schools, this research-validated curriculum focuses on teaching students to be re
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