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Faculty and Staff

Emily Schafer

Title: Associate Professor of Psychology
USC Union
Email: eschafe2@mailbox.sc.edu
Phone: 864-424-8058
schaferpic
 
Education:
PhD in International Family and Community Studies, Clemson University, 2019
MA in Clinical Psychology, Wheaton College, 2005
BS in Experimental Psychology, University of South Carolina, Honors College, 2003
 
Courses Taught:
Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 101)
Developmental Psychology (PSYC 420)
Abnormal Psychology
Child Maltreatment
 
Research Interests:
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Resilience
Trauma-Informed Care
Impact of Technology on Development and Mental Health
The Traumatic Impact of Racism
Bullying
 
Publications:
Schafer, E.S. (2018, October). Perceived Discrimination in School: Examining Long-Term Effects from a Nationally
                Representative Sample. Presentation at Coming Together for Action Conference of the Global Alliance for
                Behavioral Health and Social Justice, Denver, CO.
Schafer, E.S. (2017, December). Framing Child Maltreatment within Toxic Societal Realities. Presentation at the 5th
                annual International PhD workshop of the Haruv Institute on Child Maltreatment, The Hebrew University of
                Jerusalem, Israel.
Schafer, E.S. (2018, August). The Trauma of Racism. Presentation at the 2018 Resilience Summer Summit of the Child
                Protection Training Center, University of South Carolina – Upstate, Spartanburg, SC.
Schafer, E.S., Flege-Hudson, M.D., Limber, S.P., & Thompson, M. (2018, March). A moderated mediation analysis of the
                 negative consequences of bullying victimization. Poster presentation at the 64th annual Southeastern
                Psychological Association, Charleston, SC.
Schafer, E.S., Flege-Hudson, M.D., Limber, S.P., & Thompson, M. (2018, April). Consequences of bullying victimization
                 among rural youth: Exploring mediating mechanisms. Poster presented at the 5th annual Southeastern School
                Behavioral Health conference, Myrtle Beach, SC
Schafer, E.S., Hudson-Flege, M.D., Limber, S.P., Kowalski, R., & Mece, M. (2018, May). Comparing outcomes between
                traditional and cyberbullying victimization. Poster presentation at the 30th annual Association for Psychological
                Science convention, San Francisco, CA.
Schafer, E.S., Hudson-Flege, M.D., Limber, S.P., & Kowalski, R. (2018, November). Predictive factors of cyberbullying
                 and traditional bullying. Poster presentation at the 15th annual International Bullying Prevention Association
                Conference, San Diego, CA.
Schafer, E.S., Flege-Hudson, M.D., Limber, S.P., & Thompson, M. (2018, November). Mediators of negative outcomes
                associated with bullying victimization among rural youth. Poster presentation at the 15th annual International
                Bullying Prevention Association Conference, San Diego, CA.
Hudson-Flege,  M.,  Schafer,  E.,  Mosier,  S., & Jenkins,  J.  (2018,  April).  Integrating  the  Olweus  Bullying  Prevention
                Program  and Positive  Behavioral  Interventions  and  Supports. Presentation at  the  Southeastern  School 
                Behavioral Health  Conference, Myrtle  Beach,  SC. 
 
Riese, J. & Schafer, E. (2018, April). Yoga for the Treatment of Complex Trauma. Presentation at  the  Southeastern 
                School  Behavioral  Health  Conference, Myrtle  Beach,  SC. 
 
Professional Affiliations:
Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice
Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA)
Association for Psychological Sciences (APS)
International Bullying Prevention Association (IBPA)
 
Invited Speaker:
  • 2018 Resilience Summer Summit, University of South Carolina – Upstate, Spartanburg, SC:
    The Trauma of Racism
  • D7Shares, Spartanburg School District 7 District-Wide Employee In-service (2018):
    Racial Economic (In)equality Explained
  • Race Roundtable Community Forum, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC:
    Panel Member for a community dialogue about race
  • Miracle Hill Ministries, Annual Foster Families Celebration, Greenville, SC (2016):
    The Significance of Self-Care
  • Miracle Hill Ministries Foster Family training, Greenville, SC (2016):
    Trauma-Informed Foster Care
  • United Way’s Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service, USC – Upstate Spartanburg, SC (2016):
    Discovering my Privilege and Sharing my Power
 
 
Awards:
  • Fran White Award for Psychology, Wheaton College (2005).
  • Teen Connections STAR award, Together We Can Foundation: VA Beach, VA (2010).
  • Grant awarded Scholar in the Haruv Institute’s International Dissertation Workshop on Child Maltreatment: Hebrew University, Mt Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel (2017).
  • Kimbrough & Melton Parents Award for outstanding achievement, Institute for Family and Neighborhood Life, Clemson University (2018).
  • Recipient of three consecutive Professional Enrichment Grants, Clemson University (2018).
  • Phi Beta Kappa, National Honors Fraternity.
 
Biographical Information:
 
Dr. Schafer began teaching at USC Union in the fall of 2019. Prior to entering academia, she worked as a psychotherapist. Dr. Schafer has experience writing trauma-informed curricula and was the co-founder of a mentoring nonprofit for young children in poverty. Previously, Emily and her husband, Brandon, pioneered a program with the city of Virginia Beach for teenage girls in foster care with exceptionally high needs. Dr. Schafer was transformed by the experience of mothering ten traumatized daughters. She is the biological mother of two and speaks a little Russian from her time living and teaching in Ukraine. She enjoys being in nature, traveling, running, and celebrating every person’s journey toward wholeness and healing.
 

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