The credential in Instruction in Social-Emotional Learning and Character Development is one of two credentials offered by the Academy for SEL in Schools., a collaboration of Rutgers University and the College of Saint Elizabeth. Below, please find information on the Co-Directors of the Academy and the credentialing programs, and the primary instructors who will be teaching courses for the Instruction Credential.
MAURICE ELIAS, PH.D – PROGRAM CO-DIRECTOR
Co-Director, Academy for SEL; Professor of Psychology, Rutgers; Director, Rutgers Social-Emotional Learning Lab; Director, Collaborative Center for Community-Based Research and Service
Maurice Elias is Professor, Psychology Department, Rutgers University, Director of the Rutgers Social-Emotional Learning Lab, and Academic Director of The Collaborative, Rutgers’ Center for Community-Based Research and Service. He is Past President of the Society for Community Research and Action/Division of Community Psychology (27) of APA and has received the SCRA Distinguished Contribution to Practice and Ethnic Minority Mentoring Awards, as well as APA’s National Psychological Consultants to Management Award, the Joseph E. Zins Memorial Senior Scholar Award for Social-Emotional Learning from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the John P. McGovern Medal from the American School Health Association, and the Sanford McDonnell Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education.
Dr. Elias lectures nationally and internationally to educators and parents about students’ emotional intelligence, school success, and social-emotional and character development. A recent recipient of the Sanford McDonnell Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education, among Dr. Elias’ numerous books are ASCD’s Promoting Social and Emotional Learning: Guidelines for Educators, the Social Decision Making/Social Problem Solving curricula for grades k-8, the new e-book, Emotionally Intelligent Parenting (via Kindle and Nook) and a book for young children: Talking Treasure: Stories to Help Build Emotional Intelligence and Resilience in Young Children (www.researchpress.com, 2012). Maurice writes a blog for the George Lucas Educational Foundation’s Edutopia Website.
PATRICIA HEINDEL, PH.D. - PROGRAM CO-DIRECTOR
Co-Director, Academy for SEL; Dean of Human and Social Development, College of Saint Elizabeth; Co-Project Leader of the Academy for Social Emotional Learning in Schools; Director, CSE Center for Human and Social Development; Co-Director of the School Culture and Climate Initiative, a partnership of the CSE Center and the Youth Empowerment Alliance of the United Way of Northern New Jersey
Patricia Heindel, Ph.D., co-project leader with Maurice Elias, Ph.D. of the Academy for Social-Emotional Learning in Schools, is a professor of psychology and Dean of Human and Social Development at the College of Saint Elizabeth (CSE). She is the Director of the CSE Center for Human and Social Development and the Center’s School Culture and Climate Assessment Lab. She is co-director of the School Culture and Climate Initiative delivered in partnership between the Center for Human and Social Development and the Youth Empowerment Alliance of the United Way of Northern New Jersey.
The Initiative (modeled on the Developing Safe and Civil School Project led by Maurice Elias) is currently partnering with over 50 schools in 12 districts in Northern New Jersey to assess and improve their cultures and climates. She served as Psychology Program Chair at CSE for 21 years before becoming Dean. In 2007, Dr. Heindel was recognized as Teacher of the Year by the New Jersey Psychological Association. She has served as senior editor of the online Journal of the Behavioral and Social Sciences and is the editor of the CLEP test preparation manual in Developmental Psychology.
VICTORIA POEDUBICKY - PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR INSTRUCTION AND PRIMARY COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Victoria Poedubicky Ed.S is a retired health educator and school counselor with 33 years experience from the Highland Park Public Schools. 20 of those years were dedicated to initiating, implementing and assessing the Social Decision Making/Problem Solving program through the health program, guidance counseling services, and school and district-wide initiatives as well as integration into the curriculum. She was instrumental in initiating, facilitating and supervising a Social Decision Making Lab, which is a teaching component (intervention) assisting students in learning and strengthening social-emotional skills in a one-one or small group setting. Victoria has published several articles and most recently co-authored Social-Emotional Learning Lab: A Comprehensive SEL REsource Kit published by Research Press. She has also provided workshops to parents and staff, taught a social-emotional learning course at Rutgers University, has served as a mentor to other teachers and counselors, and is a co-developer, program coordinator and instructor for the Online Direct Instruction in Social-Emotional Learning and Character Development for Teachers and Support Staff at Rutgers University.
ERIN BRUNO - PRIMARY COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Erin Bruno, MA, CEO of the Social Decision-Making Program (SDM)—a research-based, CASEL-recognized Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative—has spent her career helping schools become places where every student can thrive. With over 30 years of experience in SECD (Social Emotional Character Development), Conflict Resolution, and Anger Management, she works side by side with educators, students, and communities, sharing practical, proven strategies that build resilience, strengthen relationships, and inspire success both in and out of the classroom.
Erin partners with administrators, teachers, mental health professionals, parents, and students to weave SEL into the fabric of school culture, strengthen climate, and nurture positive youth development. She shares her expertise as an instructor for the Academy of Social and Emotional Learning at Rutgers University and at the University of California, Berkeley, where she prepares educators to bring social-emotional skills to life in their classrooms every day.
With a background in theatre, mental health, and education, Erin brings a dynamic and engaging style to her work. She is dedicated to helping schools foster resilience, empathy, responsible decision-making, and a strong sense of belonging—ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.
PATRICK FENNELL – PRIMARY COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Patrick Fennell is the Founder of Empowerment Solutions, LLC (February 2004) and the non-profit corporation Empowerment Institute, Inc (June 2006). As a consultant, coach and facilitator, Patrick’s mission is to assist schools to develop and sustain an inclusive and engaging culture and climate where stakeholders work collaboratively so that ALL students thrive. Patrick attains his mission and sustainable results through his ABCD principle – Attitude, Awareness and Accountability yield Better Choices, which lead to your Destiny. Patrick has provided interactive workshops, training and coaching for students, teachers, counselors, administrators, parents and the community at-large. His passion and work interests focus on the connection and implementation of Social Emotional Learning, Culture and Climate, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion, Mentoring and Emotional Intelligence. As a result, he created an intergenerational mentoring program called “I CAN” which received a National Promising Practice Award from Character Education Partnership (CEP) in 2014. Patrick also serves as a consultant to schools/districts with the School Culture and Climate Initiative at Saint Elizabeth University and provides direct instruction of the Social Decision Making/Social Problem Solving curriculum with the University Behavioral Health Center at Rutgers University.
LAUREN HYMAN KAPLAN - PRIMARY COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Lauren Hyman Kaplan, M.A, is a consultant, speaker, certified emotional intelligence coach and counselor in the field of social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence and bullying prevention. She is a former teacher and school counselor with over 18 years of experience training and providing consulting to schools around the United States and the world. She conducts presentations, workshops and provides on-going consulting to schools and parenting organizations and teaches the New York State mandated Dignity for All Students and SAVE violence prevention workshops for educators . She was a Regional Implementation Director for the Developing Safe and Civil Schools Project at Rutgers University, funded by the NJ Department of Education. She is a certified consultant to the US Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, a Grant Reviewer for the US Department of Education and a certified Star Factor Emotional Intelligence Coach. Lauren is also the New York Network Leader for Six Seconds. She is an instructor at Bank Street College of Education and the co-author of the New York State "Interpersonal Violence Prevention Resource Guide for Parents and Educators." (New York State Department of Education, 2002).
DR. JOANNE MACLENNAN - PRIMARY COURSE INSTRUCTOR
A certified teacher and guidance counselor with 30 years of classroom experience, Dr. MacLennan has been on the faculty of the Program in Counseling Psychology at the College of Saint Elizabeth since 2003. She was also a group counselor for victims of domestic violence at Morris County’s Jersey Battered Women’s Service before increasing her time as the college’s Social/Emotional Character Development Specialist. Dr. MacLennan is a member of the New Jersey Culture and Climate Coalition and is part of the professional development team of the Youth Empowerment Alliance at United Way of Northern New Jersey. Her workshop areas of expertise are helping teachers use emotional intelligence skills for student academic achievement and healthy emotional and social development, bully/victim prevention and girls’ relational bullying. Other audiences include guidance counselors and those in positions of educational leadership.
TRACEY MAIDEN - PRIMARY COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Tracey Maiden, MA, is a distinguished Social-Emotional, Health, and Wellness Specialist based in New Jersey. She holds a Master of Education Degree and a Bachelor of Arts in Clinical/Child Psychology, both earned with distinction from DePaul University. Her commitment to enhancing educational environments led her to complete the Academy for Social-Emotional Learning in Schools, where she received a Certificate in School Leadership for Social-Emotional Learning and Character Development. As part of this program, Tracey initiated, implemented, and seamlessly integrated a Social-Emotional Learning Lab within her school district's restorative practices and responsive classroom approach. Today, she continues to spearhead the Social-Emotional Learning Lab as a vital intervention program aimed at boosting academic performance through Social-Emotional Learning and Character Education. Tracey's unwavering dedication lies in supporting school administrators as they embrace evidence-based behavioral interventions, weaving them into a cohesive continuum that elevates academic achievement and social well-being for all students.
PATRICIA MEACHAM - PRIMARY COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Patricia Meacham, MBA is an instructor for The Academy for SEL in School. She is an alumnus of the SECD for Direct Instruction Accelerated Program. She is an adjunct faculty member of Rutgers University, Department of Psychology, the University of San Diego, School of Leadership and Education Sciences, Department of Learning and Teaching, and the USD Division of Professional and Continuing Education. Patricia has spent over a decade supporting a wide variety of schools and museum education programs for non-profits. Her work interests are social-emotional learning, character development, and the promotion of school-family partnerships for a positive school climate. Patricia has been part of several educational research teams that develop, evaluate, and facilitate social-emotional learning and character development courses, conferences, and programs. She works with developing educators, school and district teachers and leaders, as a consultant, presenter, and trainer. Patricia previously worked in the classroom as amiddle school and high school mathematics teacher and guest teacher for K-8 students with cognitive and physical learning challenges.