Stephanie S. Fredrick

Stephanie Fredrick, PhD, NCSP is an Associate Professor of School Psychology and Associate Director of the Dr. Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying Abuse and School Violence at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Broadly, her research investigates the relations among bullying, cyberbullying, and mental health among youth and how schools, families, and communities can prevent bullying/cyberbullying and promote protective factors. Dr. Fredrick is especially interested in school-based preventative and protective factors, including social support, school climate, and social-emotional learning practices. More recently, her research has focused on cyberbullying prevention, media use, and digital citizenship skills.

Dr. Fredrick has published more than 40 refereed journal articles and book chapters and has conducted over 100 presentations/trainings on topics related to bullying, cyberbullying, school safety, and youth mental health and is frequently cited in media interviews on these topics, including Time, The Washington Post, Forbes, Yahoo! News, TODAY parents, and Insider Higher Ed. She is the lead author on Cyberbullying: Helping Children Navigate Digital Technology and Social Media (2025, Wiley). Dr. Fredrick is a licensed psychologist in New York State, a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, and serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of School Psychology. She is dedicated to applying research to practice and frequently partners with schools to consult and provide trainings on bullying and cyberbullying, digital media use, and school climate.

• PhD, Northern Illinois University, School Psychology (2015)
• MA, Northern Illinois University, School Psychology (2012)
• BS, Grand Valley State University, Psychology, Statistics (2008)

• PhD Mentorship Award; Graduate School of Education, University at Buffalo; 2026-05-14;
• Dean's Apple Award.; Graduate School of Education, University at Buffalo; 2024-05-10;

• Nickerson, A., Jenkins, L., & Fredrick, S. (2026). Bystander intervention in bullying and peer victimization. Springer Nature.
• Fredrick, S., Nickerson, A., Demaray, M., & Yang, C. (2025). Cyberbullying: Helping children navigate digital technology and social media. Wiley.

• Nickerson, A. B., & Fredrick, S. (2026). Cyberbullying and mental health in children and adolescents. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-061324-073435
• Rapp, H., Fredrick, S. S., & Nickerson, A. (2025). Parent–child agreement regarding cybervictimization: An examination of predictors. Children and Youth Services Review, 177, 108420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108420
• Fredrick, S. S., Ettekal, I., Domoff, S. E., & Nickerson, A. B. (2024). Patterns of child and adolescent digital media use: Associations with school support, engagement, and cyber victimization. Psychology of Popular Media, 14, 54–65. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000570

• Fredrick, S. S. (2025, August). Supporting students with cultivating their digital wellness. Virtual presentation for the 4th Annual School Mental Health Summer Academy, Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS).;
• Fredrick, S. S. (2025, October). Cyberbullying among school-age youth: An overview of research and practical implications. Virtual presentation for Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds, University at Buffalo.;

• Fredrick, S., Margiotta, K., & Nickerson. A. (2026, April). From bystanders to defenders: Effectiveness of bystander intervention trainings on reducing bullying and aggression. In N. Spadafora (Chair), How effective is peer defending, actually? Zooming in on methodological, contextual, and developmental factors. Symposium conducted at the Society for Research on Adolescence 2026 Biennial Meeting, Toronto, CA.;
• Jenkins, L., Fredrick, S., & Young, C. (2025, June). Longitudinal associations among school climate and mental health risk: Peer victimization as a moderator. Paper presented at the World Anti-Bullying Forum, Stavanger, Norway.;
• Woyken, S., Rapp, H., Fredrick, S., & Nickerson, A. (2026, February). Do smartphone restrictions help students: Policy and practice implications. Paper presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.;

• Extending Evaluation of the Effects of a Digital Citizenship Program with 6th Grade Students; Industry / Private Profit; Society for the Study of School Psychology; Awarded; (02/01/2026-01/31/2027)
• Building youth resiliency and school capacity to identify and respond to violent behavior through bystander intervention training; Federal Government; US Department of Homeland Security; Awarded; (09/30/2025-05/21/2026)

• Associate Editor, Journal of School Psychology
  May 2020-May 2026
• Editorial Board Member, School Psychology
  Jan 2020-May 2026

• Member, NASP Research Committee
  Aug 2022-May 2026