
Paul Flaspohler
Education
- Ph.D. University of South Carolina - Clinical-Community Psychology Yale University School of Medicine – Internship in Clinical-Community Psychology, 2004
- M.A. Xavier University - Clinical Psychology University of Cincinnati - Psychology, 2000
- B.A. Xavier University - International Affairs and Communication Arts, 1988
- University of Vienna, Austria - Political Science and German
Teaching Interests
As a clinical-community psychologist, I work to integrate teaching, research, and service through modeling and involving students in self-evaluation, through community and school-based research projects, and through teaching about using research and evaluation in the service of communities and schools. I am proud of my reputation as a professor who challenges his students, demands quality work, and nurtures students’ abilities to think critically, apply psychological theories and methods, and find meaningful opportunities for engagement in research and action.
Research Interests
There is a gap between the development of evidence-based practices and the effective use of these practices in schools and communities. My work attempts to address this gap in research and practice. In particular, I am interested in ways to assist schools and communities in assessing needs and resources; identifying gaps; accessing and adapting information about best practice; and evaluating, continuously improving, and sustaining efforts to improve child and family well being. In short, the work focuses on improving both what we do (practice) and the way we do it (process). We engage with schools and communities in efforts to prevent bullying, substance abuse, youth violence, interpersonal and domestic violence, school dropout and delinquency. We also work to improve community and school-based efforts to promote social and emotional skills, mental health, and academic success. This work proceeds through efforts to build evaluation capacity in schools and communities and through community- and school-based participatory research projects. In these projects, students, community members and school officials are co-creators and active participants in the research and action process.
Professional Recognition
Since joining the faculty at Miami in 2004, I have received nearly $2,000,000 in extramural funding to support community and school-based research and action projects. This funding includes support from the federal, state, and local government as well as regional school districts and public and private foundations. In 2000, I was co-recipient of the American Evaluation Association’s President’s Prize for Innovation in Evaluation. I have led or co-authored papers published in professional journals across disciplines including Social Service Review, Educational and Child Psychology, The Community Psychologist, and New Directions in Evaluation.
Grants
- Interact for Health – Principal Investigator 2017-2019
- Evaluation of CARE Mindfulness in Schools – Funded ($35,000)
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Principal Investigator 2016-2018
- Evaluation of AgeWell – Funded ($100,000)
- Interact for Health – Principal Investigator 2015-2018
- Evaluation of CoreLife – Funded ($135,000)
- Miami University College of Health, Education, and Society – Principal Investigator 2014-2018
- Evaluation of the Urban Teaching Cohort Program – Funded ($61,500)
- The American Readjustment and Recovery Act – Co- Investigator 2012 - 2015
- Pass-through funding from the Ohio Department of Education
Selected Publications
- Reiger, C. J., Gibson, J. E., Passarelli, R. E., & Flaspohler, P. D. (2017). Identifying elementary school student opinion leaders for engagement in evidence-based program adaptation and implementation. School Psychology International, 32(2), 565-585.
- Smith-Millman, M. K., Flaspohler, P. D., Maras, M. A., Splett, J. W., Warmbold, K., Dinnen, H., & Luebbe, A. (2017). Differences between teacher reports on universal risk assessments. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion, 10(4), 235-249.
- Maras, M., Flaspohler, P. D., Smith-Millman, M., & Oram, L. (2017). Planning, Implementing, and Improving Rural School Mental Health Programs. In K. Michael & J. P. Jameson (Eds.), Handbook of Rural School Mental Health (pp. 363–380). New York: Springer.
- Gibson, J., Flaspohler, P. D., & Watts, V. B. (2015). Engaging Youth in Bullying Prevention through Community-based Participatory Research. Family & Community Health, 38(1), 120-130.
- Flaspohler, P. D., Meehan, C., Maras, M. A., & Keller, K. E. (2012). Ready, Willing, and Able: Developing a Support System to Promote Implementation of School-Based Prevention Programs. American Journal of Community Psychology, 50(3-4), 428-444.