Sierra Trudel

Dr. Sierra M. Trudel is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and Licensed Psychologist who received her doctoral degree from the University of Connecticut's APA-accredited School Psychology program. She brings experience working in Pre-K through age-22 transition programs in urban and suburban comprehensive public schools, as well as in alternative and therapeutic educational settings. Primarily, she has worked with children and adolescents who have been historically underserved, who have experienced complex trauma, and those with social, emotional, and behavioral needs.

Dr. Trudel teaches graduate-level courses in school-based consultation, mental health prevention and intervention, and principles and practices in school psychology. She is also the APA Director of Clinical Training. She leads a research program focused on intelligence, psychological assessment, and strengths-based development through her Visible Character framework.

Her research examines how psychological assessment can better identify and support student strengths, resilience, and cognitive development. Her current work focuses on successful intelligence and cognitive assessment, including the Flynn effect and changing patterns of cognitive performance across generations; strengths-based and positive psychological assessment; educator well-being; and developmental protective factors such as character strengths and play. She also develops and evaluates assessment frameworks designed to make strengths more visible in educational settings.

Dr. Trudel is passionate about working with and mentoring students to achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals. She warmly welcomes students to join in on her research endeavors.