Melissa Mariani
Associate Professor
About
Melissa Mariani, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselor Education, specializing in School Counseling. Dr. Mariani’s research and scholarship focus on student success, school climate, school counseling interventions, outcome research, school safety and crisis response, and collaboration between higher education and K-12 institutions. Throughout her career, Dr. Mariani has served as a Project Manager for three Elementary and Secondary School Counseling grants, where she played a pivotal role in assisting various districts in the development, implementation, and maintenance of comprehensive school counseling programs based on the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Model. Several of these programs earned Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) status. In addition to her academic and project management roles, Dr. Mariani regularly provides professional development and training to school staff on a wide range of topics. Dr. Mariani is a lead researcher and national trainer for the Student Success Skills curriculum (www.studentsuccessskills.com ) and co-developer of SSS for SEL Success. She coauthored the book Facilitating Evidence-Based, Data-Driven School Counseling: A Manual for Practice with Dr. Brett Zyromski (Ohio State University), which serves as a guide for school counselors in implementing evidence-based and data-driven practices. Her dedication to the field is reflected in her active involvement in professional organizations at the local, state, and national levels. In recognition of her contributions, Dr. Mariani was named FAU’s College of Education Researcher of the Year in 2024 and was honored as FAU's University and College of Education's Scholar of the Year in 2016.
Education
- Ph.D., Florida Atlantic University, 2011
- M.Ed., Florida Atlantic University, 2002
- B.S., University of Florida, 1998
Professional Appointments
- Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC)
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
- Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference (EBSCC) Advisory Board
- Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA)
- International Society for Policy Research & Evaluation in School-Based Counseling (ISPRESC)
- Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES)
Activities and Honors
- FAU College of Education, Researcher of the Year 2024
- FAU University, Scholar of the Year 2016
- FAU College of Education, Scholar of the Year 2016
- SACES Outstanding Pre-Tenure Counselor Educator Award Nominee 2015
- ASCA School Counselor of the Year 2012-2013 Semi-Finalist
- FAU Outstanding Alumni Educator Award 2012
- FSCA School Counselor of the Year 2011
Selected Grants
Analyzing the impact of ESOL school counselor ratios on student outcomes
Role
- PI
Funding Agency
- ASCA Research Grants Program
Project Period
- 2023
Award Amount
- $10,800
Wellness advocates valuing educators and students
Role
- Co-PI
Funding Agency
- U.S. Department of Education, Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant
Project Period
- 2023
Award Amount
- $5,989,554.10
School District of Palm Beach County Bicultural/Bilingual School Counselor, M.Ed. Degree- Cohort VI
Role
- PI
Funding Agency
- U.S. Department of Education, School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC)
Project Period
- 2023
Award Amount
- $445,272
The Impact of School Counselor-led Interventions on the Bullying Behavior of Elementary School Students.
Role
- PI
Funding Agency
- Florida Atlantic University, College of Education Research Incentive Grant (RISG), Internal Award.
Project Period
- 2015
Award Amount
- $3,000
Selected Publications
Refereed Journal Articles
- *Bendit, A. & Mariani, M. (in press). The implementation of universal mental health screeners in an early college high school program. Professional School Counseling.
- *Bendit, A., Mariani, M., Peluso, P., & Calabrese, E. (2023). Supporting early college high school students: The effects of CBT-P on perfectionism, negative affectivity, and social-emotional wellbeing. The Professional Counselor, 13(3), 222-237.
- Vaughn, M., Meredith, T., Timar, A., Mariani, M., & Calabrese, E. (2023). Building the comprehensive educator research program: Action research as a vehicle for empowerment, growth, and professionalization in K12 schools. Educational Action Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/09650792.2023.2209602
- *Chance, E., Villares, E., Brigman, G., & Mariani, M. (2023). The effects of the ready for success classroom program on third-grade students’ social/emotional skills and competence. Professional School Counseling, 27(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X231182134
- Mariani, M., *Bayani, J., & *Farmanara-Kneidel, L. (2022). Addressing the social-emotional needs of students during the pandemic. Professional School Counseling, 26(1), 1-10.
- Mariani, M. & Silvestro, K. (2020). Making choices to resolve conflict: An evaluation of the Kelso’s Choice program for elementary students. Professional School Counseling. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X20940665
- Griffith, C., Mariani, M., McMahon, G., Zyromski, B., & Greenspan, S. (2020). School counseling intervention research: A 10-year content analysis of ASCA and ACA- affiliated journals. Professional School Counseling, 23 (1), doi.org/10.1177/2156759X19878700
- Zyromski, B., Martin, I., & Mariani, M. (2019). Evaluation of the True Goals school counseling curriculum: A pilot study. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 44(3), 170-183, DOI: 10.1080/01933922.2019.1634781.
- Zyromski, B., & Mariani, M. (2019). Connect the dots: Using a logic model to connect goals with interventions, evaluation strategies, and outcomes. Professional School Counseling, 22(1b). https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X19834445
- Mariani, M., Sink, C. A., Villares, E., & Berger, C. (2019). Measuring classroom climate: A validation study of the My Child’s Classroom Inventory–Short Form for Parents. Professional School Counseling. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X19860132
Presentations
- Zyromski, B., Mariani, M., Stansbury-Koenig, J., & Glass, J. (2015, September). Data-driven comprehensive school counseling: Using inputs to make decisions, choosing appropriate interventions, and evaluating outcomes. International Association for Counseling Conference: Verona, Italy.
- Zyromski, B., Stansbury-Koenig, J., Dansberry, V., Mariani, M. & Glass, J. (2015, September). Collaboration between higher education and K-12 schools to promote counseling. International Association for Counseling Conference: Verona, Italy.
- Mariani, M. & Brigman, G. (2023, March). Fostering connection, resiliency and SEL skills in students. Ninth Annual Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference: Columbus, OH.
- Brigman, G. & Mariani, M. (2023, March). An evidence-based approach to building student self-efficacy. Ninth Annual Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference: Columbus, OH.
- Griffith, C., Mariani, M., McMahon, G. & Zyromski, B. (2023, March). Cultivating research literacy: Tools for identifying valid school-based interventions. Ninth Annual Evidence- Based School Counseling Conference: Columbus, OH.
- Mariani, M., *Bayani, J., & *Farmanara Kneidel, L. (2022, March). Addressing socialemotional learning during the pandemic: A pilot study on the SSS for SEL Success program. Eighth Annual Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference: Columbus, OH.
- Osman, A. & Mariani, M. (2022, March). Meeting the unique needs of high achieving early college high school students: The impact of a small-group intervention. Eighth Annual Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference: Columbus, OH.
- Griffith, C., Mariani, M., McMahon, G., & Zyromski, B. (2021, March). Evaluating intervention quality: Worth your time or just good marketing? Seventh Annual Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference: Columbus, OH.
- *Perhay-Kuba, S., *Chance, E., Villares, E., & Mariani, M. (2021, March). Are you ready for success? Integrating explicit SEL instruction into elementary classroom guidance lessons. Seventh Annual Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference: Columbus, OH.
- Brigman, G., Villares, E., Mariani, M., Lemberger-Truelove, *M., Kane, M., & Bowers, H. (2021, March). Developing, evaluating and implementing your own evidence-based program(s). Seventh Annual Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference: Columbus, OH.
- Griffith, C., Mariani, M., & McMahon, G. (2020, March). Identify quality research. American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Annual Conference: Seattle, WA.
Books / Book Chapters
- Mariani, M. & *Chance, E. (2023). Ensuring treatment fidelity and clean data collection. In Zyromski, B. & Dimmitt, C. (Eds.), School Counseling Research (p. 267-297). Oxford University Press.
- Mariani, M. & *Perhay-Kuba, S. (2022). Evidence-based practices across MTSS. In E. Goodman-Scott, J. Betters-Bubon, & P. Donahue (Eds.), The school counselor’s guide to multi-tiered systems of support (2nd edition;Ch.12). Routledge.
- Mariani, M. (2021). Consultation supporting student mental health: Anxiety. In G. Brigman, F. Mullis, L.D. Webb, J.F. White, & E. Villares (Eds.), School counselor consultation: Skills for working effectively with parents, teachers and other school personnel (2nd edition; 108-118). Wiley Press.
Curriculum/Program Development
- Brigman, G. & Mariani, M. (2020). SSS for SEL Success: A social-emotional approach to violence prevention, pro-social skill building, and fostering a positive climate. Atlantic Education Consultants: Boca Raton, FL.