Dr. Debra J. Pepler

Dr. Debra Pepler is a Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at York University a Senior Executive Member of the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research, and Co-Founder of PREVNet. At the Hospital for Sick Children, Dr. Pepler is a Senior Associate Scientist. Dr. Pepler received her Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo in 1979. She conducts research on children at risk. Her major research program examines the antisocial behaviour of children and adolescents, particularly in the school and peer contexts. The seminal aspect of this research comprised naturalistic observations of interactions among school-aged peers with remote microphones and video cameras. Her current research in this area examines aggression and victimization among adolescents with a focus on the processes related to these problems over the lifespan. She has been honoured for this research with the Contribution to Knowledge Award from the Psychology Foundation of Canada, the Educator of the Year Award from Phi Delta Kappa (Toronto) and a Senior Research Fellowship from the Ontario Mental Health Foundation.

Dr. Pepler's clinical work is in the areas of family break-up and children with emotional and behavioural problems. She consults to the SNAP Girls Connection – a program for aggressive girls and their parents at the Child Development Institute and to Breaking the Cycle – a program for substance using mothers and their young children. Dr. Pepler is has served on several advisory committees related to parenting, antisocial behaviour, and safe school policies, within Canada and internationally.