UF
College of Education

Faculty Christopher J. Anthony

Return to Faculty Page

Christopher J. Anthony 

Associate Professor of School Psychology

Christopher J. Anthony

Phone

352-273-4281

Email

canthony@coe.ufl.edu

Address

Office 1820
PO Box 117050
Gainesville, FL 32611

About

Christopher J. Anthony is an Associate Professor of School Psychology at the University of Florida. He has authored more than 40 publications, which have been cited over 2,000 times, and co-authored several widely used assessments, including the SSIS Social and Behavioral Health Scales and the Academic Competence Evaluation Scales – Second Edition. His research broadly focuses on promoting children’s positive development, with emphasis on character, social skills, and academic competence. He is particularly interested in using advanced psychometric techniques to enhance assessment utility, developmental sensitivity, and fairness. Measures co-developed by Dr. Anthony are used with hundreds of thousands of children across the United States and in over 30 countries spanning five continents. Reflecting his expanding international work, he was named a UF Global Fellow (2024), an affiliate of the UF Center for European Studies, and was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award (2024–2025) to lead a national study of child well-being in Malta. He is also the recipient of several honors, including the Society for the Study of School Psychology’s Early Career Scholar Award (2019), the B.O. Smith Endowed Professorship (2021–2023), and the Diane E. Haines Teaching Excellence Award (2021). Across all his work, Dr. Anthony remains committed to advancing the well-being of children and youth in the U.S. and around the world.

Affiliations

  • School of Special Education School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies
  • Prevention and Intervention Network Center
  • School of Special Education, School Psychology, & Early Childhood Studies
  • University of Florida Center for European Studies

Research Interests

Achievement, Assessment and Evaluation, Data Collection and Analysis, Development and Adjustment, Developmental Trajectories, Educational Assessment and Measurement, Family Engagement, Motivation, Multi-tiered Systems of Support, Prevention Science, Psychological Studies, Quantitative Research, Research Design, Response to Intervention, School Psychology, Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Foundations of Early Learning, Social/Behavioral Interventions, Socialization Issues / Social Competence, Statistics / Applied Stats

Education

  • Ph.D. in School Psychology The Pennsylvania State University
  • M.Ed. in School Psychology The Pennsylvania State University
  • B.A. in Psychology University of Notre Dame

Professional Appointments

  • Associate Professor (2023 – present), University of Florida, School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies
  • Assistant Professor (2018 – 2023), University of Florida, School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies
  • Assistant Professor (2016-2018), Oklahoma State University, School of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Sciences

Activities and Honors

  • Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award (2024-2025)
  • University of Florida Global Fellow (2024)
  • Journal of School Psychology Associate Editor (2023-2025)
  • B.O. Smith Endowed Professorship (2021-2023)
  • Diane E. Haines Teaching Excellence Award (2021)

Selected Grants

DiPerna, J.C., Lei, P., & Anthony, C. J. (2020-2023). ACES-2: Development and Validation of the Revised Academic Competence Evaluation Scales

Role
  • Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency
  • U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
Project Period
  • 2020-2023
Award Amount
  • $1,399,785($158,987 subcontract to University of Florida)

Selected Publications

Articles
  • Anthony, C. J. & Elliott, S. N. (in press). Ratings of students' stress: Initial reliability and validity evidence for a brief stress and resilience assessment. School Mental Health. Advance online publication
  • Frye, K. E., Anthony, C. J., Lei, P. W., Husman, K. D., & DiPerna, J. C. (2025). Utility of the measurement model of derivatives for capturing dynamic processes: Evidence using the Social Skills Improvement System – Rating Scales. Child Development, 96, 721-735. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.14199
  • Anthony, C. J., Lei, P. W., Elliott, S. N., DiPerna, J. C., Cefai, C., Bartolo, P. A., Camilleri, L., O’Riordan, M., Grazzani, I., Cavioni, V., Conte, E., Ornaghi, V., Tatalovic, S., Poulou, M., Martinson, B., Simoes, C., & Colomeischi, A. (2024) Measurement invariance of children’s SEL competencies: An examination of the SSIS SEL Brief Scales with a multi-informant sample from six countries. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 40, 222-240. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015- 5759/a000753
  • Anthony, C. J., Ogg, J., & Winkelman, E. H. (2024) Dynamics of a dynamic interrelationship: Exploring whether bidirectional learning behaviors – achievement relations differ across student-teacher relationship profiles. Journal of School Psychology, 104, 101308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2024.101308
  • Anthony, C. J., Grazzani, I., Elliott, S. N., & Cavioni, V. (2024). Introduction to the special issue on assessing children’s social emotional learning to guide improvement programs. International Journal of Emotional Education, 16, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.56300/FVRF6319
  • Anthony, C. J., Elliott, S. N., Yost, M., Lei, P., DiPerna, J. C., Cefai, C., Camilleri, L., Bartolo, P. A., Grazzani, I., Ornaghi, V. Cavioni, V., Conte, E., Vorkapic, S. T., Poulou, M., Martinsone, B., Simoes, C., & Colomeischi, A. (2022) Multi-informant validity evidence for the SSIS SEL Brief Scales across six European countries. Frontiers in Psychology, 4325. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.928189
  • Kim, E. K., Anthony, C. J., & Chafouleas, S. M. (2022) Introduction to the special issue on social, emotional, and behavioral assessment within problem-solving models: Reflections on a decade of research. School Psychology Review, 51, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1907221
  • Anthony, C. J., Elliott, S. N., DiPerna, J. C., & Lei, P. (2021) Initial development and validation of the SSIS SEL Brief Scales – Teacher Form. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 39, 166-181. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282920953240
  • Anthony, C. J., Ogg, J., & Jenkins, L. (2021) Academic enablers as dynamic moderators: Exploring academic enabler levels and achievement associations across elementary school. Journal of School Psychology, 86, 15-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2021.02.007
  • Anthony, C. J., & Ogg, J. (2020) Executive function, learning-related behaviors, and science growth from kindergarten to fourth grade. Journal of Educational Psychology. 112, 1563- 1581. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000447
  • Anthony, C. J., Elliott, S. N., DiPerna, J. C., & Lei, P. (2020) Multirater assessment of young children’s social and emotional learning via the SSIS SEL Brief Scales – Preschool Forms. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 53, 625-627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.07.006
  • Anthony, C. J., Elliott, S. N., DiPerna, J. C., & Lei, P. (2020) The SSIS SEL Brief Scales – Student Form: Initial development and validation. School Psychology, 35, 277-283. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000390
  • Frye, K. E., Boss. D., Anthony, C. J., & Hangxiang, D. (in press). What Makes a Standard? Content Analysis of K-12 State SEL Standards Using the CASEL Framework. School Psychology Review. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2022.2030193
  • Elliott, S.N., Lei, P., Anthony, C.J., & DiPerna, J.C. (in press). Screening the whole social-emotional child: Expanding a brief SEL assessment to include emotional behavior concerns. School Psychology Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2020.1857659
  • Elliott, S. N., Anthony, C. J., Lei, P., & DiPerna, J. C. (in press). Parents’ assessment of K-12 students’ social emotional learning competencies: Initial psychometric characteristics of the SSIS SEL Brief Scales. Family Relations. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12615
  • Anthony, C. J., Styck, K. E., Cooke, E., Martel, J. R., & Frye, K. E. (2022). Evaluating the impact of rater effects on behavior rating scale score validity and utility. School Psychology Review, 51, 25-39. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2020.1827681
Books / Book Chapters
  • Kranzler, J. H, & Anthony, C. J. (in press). Statistics for the terrified (7th ed.). Rowan & Littlefield.
  • Anthony, C. J., Frye, K. E., Horn, T. C., Lei, P-W., & DiPerna, J.C (in press). Culturally informed approaches to behavioral and educational assessment: Considering fairness and culture in social and emotional learning assessment. In J. Twyford, K. Eklund, E. Dowdy, C. Reynolds, & R. Kamphaus (Eds.), Culturally-Informed Approaches to Behavioral and Emotional Assessment of Youth (Chapter 26). New York: Guilford.
  • DiPerna, J.C., Lei, P-W., Anthony, C.J., & Elliott, S.N. (in press). Principled and practical approaches to developing SEL assessments. In M. Brenneman, J. Burrus, & S. Rikoon (Eds.), Assessing Competencies for Social and Emotional Learning: Conceptualization, Development, and Applications (Chapter 6). New York: Routledge.
  • Elliott, S.N., Anthony, C.J., Lei, P-W., & DiPerna, J.C. (in press). Multi-informant formative and summative assessments of SEL skill development. In M. Brenneman, J. Burrus, & S. Rikoon (Eds.), Assessing Competencies for Social and Emotional Learning: Conceptualization, Development, and Applications (Chapter 12). New York: Routledge.
  • DiPerna, J. C., Bailey, C. G., & Anthony, C. J. (2014). Broadband screening of academic and social behavior. In R. J. Kettler, T. A. Glover, C. A. Albers, & K. A. Feeney-Kettler (Eds.), Universal screening in educational settings: Identification, implementation, and interpretation. Washington DC: APA Books.
Presentations
  • Anthony, C. J., Kania, C., & Winkelman, E. (2025, January). The Content of our Character (Measures): Exploring Jingle and Jangle in Character Education Measurement. Paper presented at the 13th annual Jubilee Centre Conference in Oxford, England, UK.
  • Anthony, C. J., Cefai, C., & Elliott, S. N. Social-emotional measurement in Europe: Initial conclusions and future opportunities. Poster presented as part of a symposium at the biennial conference of the European Network of Social and Emotional Competence, Chania, Crete, Greece.
  • Anthony, C. J. The SSIS SEL Brief Scales to Assess Key PROMEHS Outcomes. Paper presented as part of a symposium at the biennial conference of the European Network of Social and Emotional Competence, Chania, Crete, Greece.
  • Anthony, C. J., Howe, A., Yost, M., Schwab, S., Hassani, S., Hellmich, F., Loper, M. F., & Gorel, G. (2023). Examining the measurement invariance and convergent validity of the Social Skills Improvement System – Brief Scales (SSIS SELb) in Austria and Germany. Paper presented at the annual conference of the International School Psychology Association, Bologna, Emilia-Romana, Italy.
  • Blair, E. E., Ogg, J. O., Anthony, C. J., DiPerna, J. C., Chase, S. & Winkelman, E. (2025, April). Teacher Understandings of Academic Enablers: Untapped Opportunities to Support Student Achievement. Poster session presented at the annual convention of the American Educaitonal Research Association, Denver, CO.
  • Frye, K. E., DiPerna, J. C., & Anthony, C. J. (2025, February) Keeping up With the Kids: Considerations for Social-Emotional Assessment. Practitioner Conversation session presented at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Seattle, WA.
  • Frye, K. E., DiPerna, J. C., & Anthony, C. J. (2025, February) Building Better Rating Scales: Applied Examples From the ACES-2. Paper session presented at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Seattle, WA.
  • Anthony, C. J., Frye, K. E., & Boss, D. (2022). Investigating the content alignment of SEL standards and SEL assessments. Poster presented at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Boston, MA.
  • Anthony, C. J., Styck, K. M., & Volpe, R. J. (2022). Evaluating rater effects in direct behavior rating scales. Paper presented at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Boston, MA.
  • Ogg, J., Anthony, C. J., & Winkelman, E. H. (2022). Examining moderators of bidirectional relationships between achievement and learning behaviors. Poster presented at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Boston, MA.
  • Brann, K., Anthony, C.J., Bishop-Kallmeyer, N., Hartger, L., & Elliott, S.N. (2022). Expanding social-emotional learning assessments to see the whole social-emotinal child. Symposium presented at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Boston, MA.
  • Rodriguez-Harris, D., Kelly, K., Menter, K., Riffle, L., Ogg, J., Anthony, C., Malecki, C., & Demaray, M. (2021). Inappropriate Language and relationships at school: A cross-lagged panel analysis. Poster presented at the virtual annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists.
  • Yi, E. H., Styck, K. M., & Anthony, C. J. (2021). Using Rasch Measurement Theory to identify poorly performing ORF passages. Paper session presented at the virtual annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists.
  • Styck, K. M., Anthony, C. J., & Frye, K. (2021). The impact of raters on teacher behavior rating scale scores. Paper session presented at the virtual annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists.
  • Boss, D., Frye, K., & Anthony, C. J. (2021). What makes a standard: Content analysis of state SEL standards. Paper session presented at the virtual annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists.