JULIA V. TAYLOR, PH.D.

Dr. Julia Taylor is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia and co-directs the Virginia Partnership for School Mental Health (VPSMH) with Dr. Michael Lyons. The VPSMH is a statewide collaborative effort with the Virginia Department of Education aimed to recruit and retain school mental health professionals and improve evidence-based practices. Dr. Taylor's research, service, and advocacy efforts focus on (1) improving K-12 mental health service delivery, (2) effective data-based decision making, and (3) equity issues concerning the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive school counseling programs.

Prior to academia, Dr. Taylor worked as a school counselor and dean of student services in a variety of K-12 settings. During this time she supervised school counselors-in-training, developed district-wide counseling curricula, served on school and district-level teams, and authored several counseling-related books. She frequently presents relevant topics (i.e., mental health literacy, body image, relational aggression, group counseling, comprehensive counseling services, etc.) to school counselors, administrators, educators, and parents at the local, state, and national level.