Dr. Leadbeater has an interdisciplinary background with an emphasis on health, education and psychology. She holds degrees in Nursing and Educational Psychology from the University of Ottawa, and in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University, New York. She has made internationally recognized contributions to knowledge on bullying and victimization, adolescent depression, resilience in adolescent mothers, and transitions to young adulthood. She also has lead the development and evaluation of the WITS Programs for the prevention of bullying and victimization in elementary school children (www.witsprogram.ca). She is highly committed to efforts to translate theory and research into student training and into policy and program actions that can improve the lives of children, youth, and their families.