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Steven W. Evans, Ph.D. is the Alvin V. Baird Jr. Centennial Chair in Psychology and a professor in the department of Graduate Psychology. Dr. Evans is a faculty member in the Psychological Sciences program and Director of the Alvin V. Baird Attention and Learning Disabilities Center at James Madison University. He is the editor-in-chief of School Mental Health: A Multidisciplinary Research and Practice Journal.

Bio:

Dr. Evans graduated from Case Western University with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and then completed a clinical internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic (WPIC). Following his fellowship he joined the faculty at WPIC for eight years prior to coming to JMU. Before earning his doctoral degree he was a special education teacher in a public elementary school. His research integrates these backgrounds into a focus on the development and evaluation of school-based and school-linked treatments for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He developed the Challenging Horizons Program in 1999 and has received federal and state grants to support the research and development of a variety of interventions for adolescents with ADHD.

Dr. Evans works closely with graduate and undergraduate students who join the research team at the center. There are numerous roles for students ranging from data entry to providing treatments to children and their parents. In addition, some students serve as project coordinators and many use data from their projects for their M.A. thesis or undergraduate honor’s thesis. There are paid positions on the research teams and funding for graduate assistantships. Many students have co-authored manuscripts, book chapters, conference presentations and posters.

Service to national organizations have included being a member of the Professional Advisory Board of CHADD and he currently serves on the advisory board of the Center for School Mental Health Assistance. University service includes chairing the Faculty Research Council. Dr. Evans is on the editorial board for the Journal of Attention Disorders, Advances in School Based Mental Health, and Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review.

Department service includes coordinating the clinical concentration and serving as a member of the steering committee for the Psychological Sciences program. He teaches a practicum and course on Writing Research Grants in the department of Graduate Psychology.

Publications

2008

1. Molina, B.S.G., Flory, K., Bukstein, O.G., Greiner, A.R., Baker, J.L., Krug, V., & Evans, S.W. (2008).  Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an after school program for middle schoolers with ADHD:  A randomized trial in a large public middle school.  Journal of Attention Disorders.
2. Evans, S.W., Schultz, B.K. & Serpell, Z.N. (2008). Balancing feasibility and treatment adherence in school mental health research. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion, 1, 28-38.
3. Evans, S.W., Schultz, B.K. & Sadler, J.M. (2008). Safety and efficacy of psychosocial interventions used to treat children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatric Annals, 37, 52-58.
4. Evans, S.W., Schultz, B.K. & Sadler, J.M. (2008). Safety and efficacy of psychosocial interventions used to treat children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychiatric Annals, 38, 58-65.
5. Evans, S.W., Sibley, M. & Serpell, Z.N. (in press). Changes in caregiver strain over time in young adolescents with ADHD: The role of oppositional and delinquent behavior. Journal of Attention Disorders.
6. Evans, S.W., Dowling, C., & Brown, R. (2008). Psychosocial treatment of adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In K. McBurnett, L. Pfiffner, R. Schachar, G.R. Elliott, & J.Nigg (Eds.), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, Inc.

2007

• Evans, S.W., Serpell, Z.N., Schultz, B. & Pastor, D. (2007). Cumulative benefits of secondary school-based treatment of students with ADHD. School Psychology Review, 36, 256-273.
• Evans, S.W., White, L.C., Sibley, M. & Barlow, E. (2007). School-based mental health treatment of children and adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. In Evans, S.W., Weist, M., & Serpell, Z. (Eds.), Advances in School-Based Mental Health Interventions: Best Practices and Program Models (Vol. 2). New York: Civic Research Institute.
• Buvinger, L., Evans, S.W. & Forness, S. R. (2007). Issues in evidence-based practice in special education for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. In Evans, S.W., Weist, M., & Serpell, Z. (Eds.), Advances in School-Based Mental Health Interventions: Best Practices and Program Models (Vol. 2). New York: Civic Research Institute.
• Short, K.H., Evans, S.W., Woehrle, T.S. & Ridolfi, C.M. (2007). E-BEST:  Bridging the science and practice divide in school-based mental health. In Evans, S.W., Weist, M., & Serpell, Z. (Eds.), Advances in School-Based Mental Health Interventions: Best Practices and Program Models (Vol. 2). New York: Civic Research Institute.
• Evans, S.W., Weist, M., & Serpell, Z. (Eds.) (2007). Advances in School-Based Mental Health Interventions: Best Practices and Program Models (Vol. 2). New York: Civic Research Institute.
• Van Eck, K., Evans, S.W., & Ulmer, L.J. (2007). From evidence-based to best practices: What does it mean? Report on Emotional & Behavioral Disorders in Youth, 7, 35-40.
• Garland, B.H., Evans, S.W., & Thompson, J. (2007). Parental help-seeking pathways and perceived effectiveness of professional sources for Hispanic and non-Hispanic families. Report on Emotional & Behavioral Disorders in Youth, 7, 71-76.

2006

1. Evans, S.W., Timmins , B., Sibley, M., White, L.C., Serpell, Z.N. & Schultz, B. (in press).  Developing coordinated, multimodal, school-based treatment for young adolescents with ADHD. Education & Treatment of Children. 29(2), 195-214.
2. Barron, K.E., Evans, S.W., Baranik, L.E., Serpell, Z.N., & Buvinger, E. (in press). Achievement goals of students with ADHD. Learning Disability Quarter. 29, 137 – 158.
3. Evans, S.W. & Youngstrom, E. (in press). Evidence based assessment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Measuring outcomes. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 45(9), 1132-1137.
4. Creasy, B. & Evans, S.W. (2006). Book Review: Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in Adolescents. . Attention! (CHADD), 13(6).

2005

1. Evans, S.W. (2005). Introduction to special issue on school based treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 9, 245-247.
2. Evans, S.W., Serpell, Z., & White, C. (2005). The Transition to middle school: Preparing for challenge and success. Attention! (CHADD), June, 29-31.
3. Evans, S.W., Molina, B., & Smith, B. (2005). Getting started in treatment development of middle school based services. In Balance (newsletter of APA division 53), 20 (1), 3.
4. Serpell, Z., Evans, S.W., & Barbour, K. (2005). The significance of culture: Understanding barriers to care and the diagnosis of ADHD in African American Youth. Report on Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Youth, 5, 63-75.
5. Evans, S.W. & White, L.C. (2005). Book Review: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: State of the Science: Best Practices. (Jensen, P.J. & Cooper, J.R.). Journal of Attention Disorders, 9, 369-370.
6. Evans, S.W. & Timmins, B. (2005). Finding their niche: The role of master’s programs in scientist/practitioner model graduate training. the Behavior Therapist, 28, 123-124.
7. Evans, S.W. & Henriques, G.R. (2005). James Madison University : Psychological Sciences Program (Clinical Concentration). the Behavior Therapist, 28, 126-127.
8. Evans, S.W. & Serpell, Z.N. (2005). Mentoring: A powerful method for teaching. The Pedagogy Post.
9. Wolraich, M.L., Wibbelsman, C.J., Brown, T.E., Evans, S.W., Gotlieb, E.M., Knight, J.R., Ross, C., Shubiner, H.H., Wender, E.H. & Wilens, T. (2005). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adolescents: A review of the diagnosis, treatment and clinical implications. Pediatrics, 115 (6), 1734-1746.
10. Evans, S.W., Langberg, J., Raggi, V., Allen, J., & Buvinger, E. (2005). Development of a school-based treatment program for middle school youth with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 9(1), 343-353.
11. Evans, S.W., Green, A., & Serpell, Z.N. (2005). Community participation in the treatment development process using assessment and Community Development Teams. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34 (4), 765-771.
12. Evans, S.W., Allen, J., Moore, S., & Strauss, V. (2005). Measuring symptoms and functioning of youth with ADHD in middle schools. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 33 (6), 695-706.
13. Evans, S.W. (2005). Book Review: Academic Success Strategies for Adolescents with Learning Disabilities & ADHD. Attention! (CHADD).
14. Masse, C., Evans, S.W., Brown, R., & Grove, A. (2005). What parents and teachers should know: Effective treatments for youth with ADHD. In C. Franklin, M.B. Harris, & P. Allen-Meares (Eds.), School Social Work and Mental Health Worker’s Training and Resource Manual.
15. Schultz, B. & Evans, S.W. (2005). To mainstream or not to mainstream: What does the research evidence say? In C. Franklin, M.B. Harris, & P. Allen-Meares (Eds.), School Social Work and Mental Health Worker’s Training and Resource Manual.
16. Evans, S.W., Mullett, E., Weist, M., & Franz, K. (2005). Feasibility of the MindMatters school mental health promotion program in American schools. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 34, 51-58.
17. Weist, M.D. & Evans, S.W. (2005). Expanded school mental health: Challenges and opportunities in an emerging field. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 34, 3-6.

2004

1. Axelrod, J., Burke, R., Cashman, J., Evans, S., Koller, J., Morris, E., Paternite, Rietz, K., and Weist, M. (2004). Enhancing student resilience through innovative partnerships. In C. S. Clauss-Ehlers & M. D. Weist (2004). Community Planning to Foster Resiliency in Children. New York : Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
2. Evans, S.W., Williams, A., Schultz, B., & Weist, M. (2004). Behavioral assessment in schools. In Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology. Oxford , UK : Elsevier Inc.
3. Evans, S.W., Axelrod, J.L., & Langberg, J. (2004). Efficacy of a school-based treatment program for middle school youth with ADHD: Pilot data. Behavior Modification, 528-547.
4. Evans, S.W. & Weist, M.D. (2004). Implementing empirically supported treatments in the schools: What are we asking? Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 7, 263-267.
5. Mullet, E., Evans, S.W., & Weist, M. (2004). A whole-school approach to mental health promotion: The Australian MindMatters program. In C. S. Clauss-Ehlers & M. D. Weist (Eds.), Community Planning to Foster Resiliency in Children. New York : Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

2003

1. Evans, S.W., Serpell, Z., Schultz, B., & Williams, A. (2003). Developing and transitioning school-based treatment: The Challenging Horizons Program example. Report on Emotional & Behavioral Disorders in Youth, 3, 95-103.
2. Evans, S.W., Langberg, J., & Williams, J. (2003). Treatment generalization in school based mental health. In M. Weist, S. Evans, & N. Lever (Eds.), Handbook of School Mental Health: Advancing Practice and Research. New York : Kluwer/Plenum.
3. Evans, S.W., Glass-Siegal, M., Frank, A., Van Trueren, R., Lever, N, & Weist, M. (2003). Overcoming the Challenges of Funding School Mental Health Programs. In M. Weist, S. Evans, & N. Lever (Eds.), Handbook of School Mental Health: Advancing Practice and Research. New York : Kluwer/Plenum.
4. Weist, M.D., Goldstein, J., Evans, S.W., Lever, N.A., Axelrod, J., Schreters, R. & Pruitt, D. (2003). Funding a full continuum of mental health promotion and intervention programs in the schools. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 32, 70-78.
5. Weist, M., Evans, S.W., & Lever, N. (2003). Advancing mental health research and practice in schools. In M. Weist, S. Evans, & N. Lever (Eds.), Handbook of School Mental Health: Advancing Practice and Research.. New York : Kluwer/Plenum.
6. Weist, M., Evans, S.W., & Lever, N. (Eds.) (2003). Handbook of School Mental Health: Advancing Practice and Research. New York : Kluwer/Plenum.

2002

1. Barkley, R. et al. (2002). Consensus statement on ADHD. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 11(2), 96-98.
2. Barkley, R.A. (2002). International Consensus Statement on ADHD – January 2002. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 5, 89-111.
3. Evans, S.W. & Nemeth, M. (2002). Book Review: Talking Back To Ritalin. Communiqué (NASP), March, 2002.
4. Evans, S.W., Raggi, V., Paolitto, A. (2002). School based treatment of adolescents with ADHD. The ADHD Report, 10(2), 10-16.
5. Evans, S.W., Sapia, J.L., Axelrod, J.L., & Glomb, N. (2002). Practical issues when establishing a school based mental health program: A case example. In H.S. Ghuman, M.D. Weist, & R.M. Saries (Eds.), Providing Mental Health Services to Youth Where They Are: School- and Community Based Approaches. New York : Brunner/Mazel.

2001

1. Evans, S.W., Pelham, W.E., Smith, B.H., Bukstein, O., Gnagy, E.M., Greiner, A.R., Altenderfer, L., & Baron-Myak, C. (2001). Dose-response effects of methylphenidate on ecologically-valid measures of academic performance and classroom behavior in adolescents with ADHD. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 9, 163-175.

2000

1. Evans, S.W., Axelrod, J.L., & Sapia, J.L. (2000). Effective school-based interventions: The development of a social skills training paradigm. Journal of School Health, 70, 191-194.
2. Smith, B.H., Pelham, W.E., Gnagy, E., Molina, B., & Evans, S.W. (2000). The reliability, validity, and unique contributions of self-report by adolescents receiving treatment for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 489-499.
3. Smith, B.H., Waschbusch, Willoughby , M., & Evans, S.W. (2000). The efficacy, safety, and practicality of treatments for adolescents with ADHD. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 3, 243-268.

1999

1. Evans, S.W. (1999). Mental Health Services in Schools: Utilization, Effectiveness, and Consent. Clinical Psychology Review, 19, 165-178.