Lyndsay Jenkins, the Michael and Jean Shahnasarian Endowed Professor at the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, has been named a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA). The honor is regarded as one of the most prestigious in the field.
The APA consists of more than 133,000 members and produces leading scientific research while providing professional development opportunities. Attaining the status of fellow is reserved for members who have made an impact in the field of psychology that extends beyond their local area, state or region.
“It is a tremendous honor to be named a fellow of the APA,” Jenkins said. “As a first-generation college student from a rural community, I never would’ve imagined that this type of recognition would be possible. This achievement represents years of hard work, but also the immense support of my family, mentors, colleagues, and students who have shaped my career.”
Jenkins’ research focuses on investigating bullying and developing interventions for children and adolescents who have been targets of bullying or harassment. Her major project, Intervention for Victimized Youth (IVY), seeks to provide resources for victims and assists children from elementary school through high school.
As a scholar in school psychology, Jenkins works to improve the lives of youth who have been affected by bullying. Her areas of focus include peer victimization, cyberbullying and racial microaggression in schools.
Jenkins and her team developed versions of IVY that provide individual counseling interventions and interventions for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is the first intervention program that specifically addresses the needs of bullied youth from a trauma-informed perspective.
Her hope is that mental health professionals around the world can use IVY to support youth who are bullied.
“This innovative work positively impacts youth and schools by providing a free, evidence-based program for the millions of youth affected by bullying each year,” Jenkins added.
In addition to her research, Jenkins also serves as the director of the Seminoles ASPIRE and STRIDES programs, which help local school children gain access to effective mental health services. She is the program director for the M.S./Ed.S. School Psychology Program and serves as a faculty member in the Combined Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology program.
Her work as both an educator and researcher earned her a University Teaching Award in 2023 for Community Engaged Teaching and a Graduate Teaching Award from Anne’s College as well as a Graduate Mentor Award from FSU, both in 2025.