Amanda P. Williford

Batten Bicentennial Professor of Early Childhood Education; Associate Director for Early Childhood Education, CASTL

  • Ph.D, Clinical Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2003
  • M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2000
  • B.A., Psychology, University of Virginia, 1996

I conduct research exploring how young children best develop school readiness skills, with special emphasis on the development of social-emotional skills. My primary research focus is on developing and evaluating classroom-based, interventions for young children who display disruptive behavior problems and/or deficits in behavioral and emotional self-regulation. I am also interested in state efforts to increase high quality early education opportunities. 

My clinical training and expertise is in the assessment and treatment of young children (infants through third grade) particularly in the assessment of externalizing behaviors and in early childhood mental health consultation. I use behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and attachment orientations and I focus on the use of empirically-supported treatments.

I mentor Ph.D. students in the Clinical & School Psychology Program and the Educational Psychology, Applied Developmental Science Program who have strong interests in conducting applied research in areas that are aligned with my research expertise.  Undergraduate and Master's students participate on many of my projects as research assistants (for course credit and/or for pay).

Dr. Williford will be accepting a student to start Fall 2023 in the Clinical and School Psychology program.

View CASTL's Early Childhood Initiatives >

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