Shannon Lipscomb

Associate Dean for Research and Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences
Shannon.Lipscomb@osucascades.edu

Office: 541-322-3137

Edward J. Ray Hall

Edward J. Ray Hall 209E

1500 SW Chandler Avenue

1500 SW Chandler Avenue
Bend, Oregon 97702
Credentials: 
Ph.D. in Human Development and the Family Science, University of California, Davis
B.A. in Psychology, with Minor in Spanish, Whitman College
Curriculum Vitae: 

Profile Field Tabs

At OSU
Research/Career Interests: 

Research Blog: The Connect Research Group

Dr. Lipscomb conducts research to identify effective ways of building resilience among young children and families facing adversity. Key areas of focus include: (1) the role of early childhood education in the lives of children involved in child welfare, foster care, and/or impacted by trauma; (2) the interplay between children's risks and their early experiences on development, and (3) early childhood programs and systems.

Early Childhood Core of the Hallie Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families

The Early Childhood Core focuses on optimizing children's development and well-being in families, early care and educational settings, and communities.

Current Projects

Flame Retardants and Children’s School Readiness Study
PIs: Molly Kile, Sc.D. and Shannon Lipscomb, Ph.D.
Funding: National Institutes of Health (2019-2024)
Award number: R01 ES029497-01A1

This interdisciplinary study aims to improve our understanding of children’s exposures to flame retardant compounds, as well as to examine the interplay between flame retardants and adverse social experiences on children’s neuro-cognitive, executive functioning, and behavioral development. The study recruits 600 children aged 4-8 years in preschool and follow them for 3 years until they graduate from first grade. Recruitment occurs in two waves (2020-2021 and 2021-2022). The primary aims are: (1) assess exposure to OPFRs and BDE among a diverse group of children to improve our understanding of factors that contribute to inter- and intra-individual variability, (2) examine the exposure-response relationship between OPFRs and children’s development between ages 4-8 years, and examine the potential for sex to modify these associations, and (3) examine the moderating influences of social stressors on the association between flame retardant exposures and children’s development.

Roots of Resilience: Teachers Awakening Children’s Healing
PI: Shannon Lipscomb, Ph.D.
Funding: Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, 2015-2020
Award number: R305A150107
Roots of Resilience is a professional development program to help early childhood teachers promote resilience with children impacted by trauma. Early childhood trauma poses a serious threat to the well-being of children, families, and communities. With the majority of children attending early care and education prior to kindergarten, the opportunity to help them start school ready to succeed is profound. Roots of Resilience provides professional supports (workshops, online course, video-based coaching) to help early childhood professionals nurture resilience in themselves, and in the children and families they serve. Initial results indicate that Roots of Resilience is feasible for teachers, and helps them to use trauma-responsive practices and to feel confident that they are making a difference in children’s lives. Additional research is underway.

Measuring Resilience to Support Collective Impact with TRACEs (Trauma, Resilience, and Adverse Childhood Experiences) of Central Oregon
Co-PIs: Shannon Lipscomb, PhD and Brianne Kothari, PhD
Funding: United Way of Deschutes County 2018-2021
Through a partnership between TRACEs of Central Oregon, Oregon State University-Cascades, and Better Together of the High Desert Education Service District this project launched shared measurement of resilience throughout Central Oregon. TRACEs partners are engaged in shared measurement across sectors such as health, education, and social services. The goals are to use shared measures to understand our communities, continuously improve conditions to nurture resilience, track progress, and celebrate successes.
"Central Oregon Embraces Shared Measurement: Positive Factors to Promote Resilience," Trauma Informed Oregon Blog, 2018

In the News

Publications

Presentations and Invited Address

Grants

Biography

Shannon Lipscomb is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) and the Associate Dean for Research for Oregon State University-Cascades. She teaches undergraduate courses in HDFS and mentors both undergraduate and graduate students in research.

Dr. Lipscomb is a developmental scientist who examines mechanisms for nurturing resilience with children and families facing adversity and/or trauma. She conducts both basic research on adversity and resilience, and applied research to identify and strengthen factors that build resilience within individuals, relationships, and communities. Dr. Lipscomb has particular expertise in early learning environments (e.g., preschool, child care) and early childhood development. She collaborates with community partners, collective impact initiatives, and academic colleagues. Her research provides evidence for prevention and early intervention to improve conditions and opportunities for children, families, and teachers, particularly those most impacted by inequities and trauma.