Joni Williams Splett, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of School Psychology

College of Education

2023 Awardee

Joni Williams Splett is a nationally recognized scholar in the field of school psychology, with a focus on improving the social, emotional and behavioral health outcomes of school-aged youth. Her research has had a significant impact on the field, informing best practices in school-based prevention and intervention programs.

Splett’s research focuses on two integrated lines of inquiry: schoolwide models to support behavioral and mental health through promotion, prevention and intervention; and interventions to reduce aggression and related risk behaviors.

Splett’s research has had a positive impact on the lives of countless children and youth. Her work on schoolwide models to support behavioral and mental health has led to the development of effective prevention and intervention programs that have been implemented in schools across the country. Her research on interventions to reduce aggression has also been important in addressing this critical issue.

Her empirical research and scholarship are highly regarded, with her work appearing in leading journals such as the Journal of School Psychology, Journal of Community Psychology, School Psychology, and School Psychology Quarterly. Her research has been disseminated widely, with over 120 presentations at state, national, and international conferences, including 42 invited sessions and keynotes.

Splett’s research has also been successful in securing funding, collaborating with colleagues at the University of Florida and across the country to secure over $20 million from various federal agencies and private foundations, including the U.S. Department of Education and National Institutes of Health. Her recent awards of $10 million as the PI for projects addressing the unmet mental health needs of children through school-based services, research, and professional preparation for school psychologists and school counselors are a testament to her dedication and expertise.

“Dr. Splett’s research has been instrumental in improving the social, emotional, and behavioral health outcomes of school-aged children and youth,” said Nancy Waldron, director of the School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies. “Her dedication to school-aged children is truly inspiring, and her work will continue to inform best practices for years to come.”