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Jessica Trinidade , Psy.D.

Associate Director of Clinical Training 
Office Location
EC 125D
Jessica Trindade

Jessica Trindade, Psy.D. is a bilingual Lecturer and Associate Coordinator of Clinical Training across both the PsyD in School and Clinical Psychology and Professional Diploma in School Psychology programs. Her primary responsibilities include teaching graduate-level courses and overseeing school externships and practica. She has worked in both school and clinical settings, most recently with a focus on bilingual autism evaluations. Dr. Trindade's research interests center around the classification methods used by practicing school psychologists for specific learning disorders, the primary reason for their use, and how problems with chosen methods may be addressed systematically. She is also involved in research exploring social and emotional learning at a universal level and enhancing training protocols for cognitive assessment in graduate education. Lastly, she has been consistently engaged in advocacy efforts for children and adolescents at both the state and national levels.  

Education

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey, Advanced Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) Program in School Psychology (February 2022) 

    • Doctoral Dissertation: Identification Methods Utilized to Classify Students with a Specific Learning Disability: What Is the Status of New Jersey? 

  • Kean University, Union, New Jersey, Professional Diploma in School Psychology (May 2013) 

    • Masters in Educational Psychology (May 2011) 

  • Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, Bachelors of Art, Psychology (January 2010) 

Courses Taught

  • Academic Assessments and Interventions 

  • Child and Adolescent Psychopathology 

  • Cognitive Assessment I, with Practicum 

  • Cognitive Assessment II, with Practicum 

  • Developmental Psychology of Children and Adolescents 

  • Evidence Based Treatment I: Children and Adolescents 

  • Externship – School Psychology 

  • Integrative Battery Assessment 

  • Professional Seminar – Professional Development School Psychology 

  • Professional Seminar – Research 

  • School-Clinical Psychology Professional Seminar II: Ethical and Legal Concepts for School-Clinical Psychology 

  • School-Home-Community Consultation and Collaboration 

  • Supervised Externship 

Research Interests

My previous research has involved topics related to school psychology such as ADHD and protective factors, services provided to the bully in harassment, intimidation and bullying incidents, and cultural and linguistic diversity among graduate students and the associated benefits to our field. The gaps between research and practice in the classification process for specific learning disabilities (SLDs) in the school setting have been well-documented. My current research considers the classification methods used by practicing school psychologists for SLDs, the primary reason for their use, and how problems with the chosen methods may be addressed systematically. Recently, two separate bills have been introduced to the Assembly Education Committee regarding this exact issue, which has increased interest in the future classification process for SLDs in New Jersey.   

Social and Emotional Learning at a Universal Level  

I co-lead a research team with Dr. Adrienne Garro, with a focus on applying research-based strategies to support children and adolescents in developing social emotional skills for improved self-regulation. Our current project involves collaborating with local school districts to implement a mini social-emotional program for young children, emphasizing emotional awareness, understanding, and the use of developmentally appropriate emotion regulation strategies. Looking ahead, our team plans to extend this to older children and eventually adolescents. 

Enhancing Training Protocols for Cognitive Assessment in Graduate Education 

I am currently co-leading a national faculty workgroup focused on developing a centralized repository for trainers. Cognitive assessments are widely used across settings, and their outcomes often influence high-stakes decisions with significant impacts on individuals’ lives. Through this collaborative work, I aim to strengthen resources for the field and create meaningful research opportunities for students in our program.