Faculty Directory

Jessica M. Black

Associate Professor

Chair, Children, Youth and Families Field of Practice

Photo of Jessica M. Black

Jessica M. Black

Ph.D.

Contact

McGuinn Hall 209

Telephone: 617-552-1866

Email: j.black@bc.edu

Education

  • B.A., U.C. Berkeley
  • M.A., Stanford University
  • Ph.D., Stanford University
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University School of Medicine

Research Interests

Educational Neuroscience, Neurodiversity, Innovation in Social Work Curricula, Dyslexia, Motivation, Positive Emotion, Spirituality, Neurotheology, Sleep, Mental Health, Translational Science, Educational Policy

Expertise

  • Children, Youth, and Families
  • Faith-Based Services
  • Mental Health
  • Neuroscience and Social Work
  • School Social Work
  • Trauma

In the News

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CV or Resume

Profile

Jessica M. Black, MA, PhD, is Associate Professor, Chair of Children, Youth and Families Field of Practice, Teaching Chair, and The Cell to Society Lab Director at the School of Social Work, 艾可直播 College. Dr. Black is an educational neuroscientist whose research centers on ways in which child and adolescent biological development is informed by surrounding proximal and distal experiences such as with sleep, family, school, and religion.

Dr. Black is dedicated to illuminating the strengths young people hold and share including humor, play, flexibility, and drive. She is at the forefront of championing efforts to fuel bridges between neuroscience and social work nationally and locally related to pedagogy, theory, and practice. She developed and leads the听Neuroscience and Social Work Certificate, the first and only training of its kind.

Dr. Black鈥檚 interdisciplinary emphasis in scholarship and teaching is informed by her formal educational background in psychology, education, and neuroscience, and her essential collaborations with esteemed scholars and seasoned practitioners in social work, ministry, theology, and psychiatry.

Select Publications

Pierce, Z. P., & Black, J. M. (2022). Stress and susceptibility: A systematic review of prenatal epigenetic risks for developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.听Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 15248380221109792. Advance online publication.听

Pierce, Z. P., & Black, J. M. (2021). The neurophysiology behind trauma-focused therapy modalities used to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder across the life course: A systematic review.听Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 15248380211048446. Advance online publication.听

King, C. D., Joyce, V. W., Nash, C. C., Buonopane, R. J., Black, J. M., Zuromski, K. L., & Millner, A. J. (2021). Fear of sleep and sleep quality mediate the relationship between trauma exposure and suicide attempt in adolescents.听Journal of Psychiatric Research,听135, 243鈥�247.听

Black, J. M., & Conway, A. M. (2018). The importance of developmental neuroscience for social work research and practice with children and adolescents. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 9(2), 261-284.

Black, J. M. (2017). Adolescent brain development. Encyclopedia of Social Work: Oxford University Press. February,

Yamagata, B., Murayama, K., Black, J. M., Hancock, R., Mimura, M., Yang, T. T., Reiss, A. L., & Hoeft, F. (2016). Female-specific intergenerational transmission patterns of the human corticolimbic circuitry.听The Journal of Neuroscience, 36(4), 1254鈥�1260.听

Black, J. M., & Hoeft, F. (2015). Utilizing biopsychosocial and strengths-based approaches within the field of child health: what we know and where we can grow.听New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 147, 13鈥�20.听

Vrticka, P.**, Black, J. M.**, & Reiss, A. L. (2013). The neural basis of humour processing.听Nature Reviews. Neuroscience,听14(12), 860鈥�868.听

Select Grants

New Hampshire Department of Education Grant, Bureau of Student Wellness: Black (PI)
Dates: 06/01/2022 鈥� 09/30/2024
A Scientific Investigation of Student Wellbeing and Play-Based Intervention Programming in New Hampshire Elementary Schools听听

Science for Seminaries Grant, American Association for the Advancement of Science: Doyle (PI)
Dates: 04/01/2021 鈥� 10/30/2022
Role: Co-I
Neuroscience Education in Theology Training (NETT Project)听听

Academic Technology听Innovation Grant (ATIG),听艾可直播 College: Black (PI)
Dates: 06/01/2020 鈥� 5/31/2022
Online Classroom Enhancement Project (OCEP)听听

Teaching and Mentoring Award (TAM), 艾可直播 College: Black (PI)听
Dates: 06/01/2020听鈥� 5/31/2021
Educational Neuroscience Toolbox for Higher Education

Faculty Research Expense Grant (REG), 艾可直播 College: Black (PI)
Dates: 06/01/2016听鈥� 5/31/2017
Biomarkers in Adolescent Development and Resilience听听

Ignite Grant, 艾可直播 College: Black (PI)听
Dates: 06/01/2014听鈥� 5/31/2015听
Using a Biopsychosocial Lens to Examine Risk and Protective Processes in Students with Learning Disabilities

Faculty Research Incentive Grant (RIG), 艾可直播 College: Black (PI)
Dates: 06/01/2012听鈥� 5/31/2014听
Prediction of Reading Achievement in Young Children

Select Appointments & Awards

Member, Task Force on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and Developmental Neuroscience, Council on Social Work Education (2019 鈥� 2022)

Editorial Board: Social Sciences听(2020鈥�); Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities听Research听(2020鈥� ); Education听Sciences听(2020鈥�); PLOS听ONE听(2019鈥�); Frontiers听in Educational Psychology听(2011鈥�)

Teaching Excellence Award, 艾可直播 College School of Social Work, 2016
Teaching Excellence Award, 艾可直播 College School of Social Work, 2015

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