2003 – present City University of New York Ph.D., Environmental Psychology

2000 – 2002 New York University M.A., Psychology

1997 – 2000 Rider University B.A., Psychology (summa cum laude)

Honors and Awards

· Honorable Mention in the Children, Youth and Environments Graduate Student Paper Contest for Excellence in Research, 2004

· University Fellow, City University of New York, 2003 – 2005

· M.A. Scholar, New York University, 2002

· Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany Award, 2000

· Foreign Study Award, 2000

· Dean’s List, Rider University, 1997 – 2000

Research Experience

2004 – present
Data Analyst Consultant, ActKnowledge, New York, NY
Conducted data analyses for an evaluation of Hawaiian programs that increase parental knowledge of child development. Authored summary reports to state funders and community organizers. Consulted on the development and implementation of a survey administered to New York City middle school students who were engaged in after-school programs. Responsibilities also included data management, data analyses, and preparing reports and presentations on research findings.

2004 – present
Research Assistant, Center for Human Environments, New York, NY
Evaluated a national, non-profit organization that provides financial counseling and education to low- and moderate-income homebuyers. Assessed outcomes included client satisfaction with services and education, social capital, personal assets, and finances. Responsibilities consisted of managing the project and data, conducting focus groups, developing a quantitative questionnaire, and data analysis.

2003 – 2004
Research Assistant, National Center for Schools and Communities
New York, NY
Conducted a seven-year evaluation of the GEAR-UP program for middle school students from low-income families in the Bronx. Managed and supervised all data activity, authored data reports to sponsors, acted as liaison between intervention site and evaluation center, and conducted data analyses.

2002 – 2003
Statistical Consultant, New York, NY
Collaborated with a doctoral candidate on applying various statistical approaches appropriate for her dissertation research. Conducted statistical analyses for the candidate in the field of school psychology. Edited the final dissertation manuscript and assisted in interpreting research outcomes.

2000 – 2003
Data Manager, New York Housing Study, New York, NY
Conducted an evaluation of a Housing-First intervention for homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Responsibilities included data collection, assuring data quality, data management, analyzing and interpreting data, writing activity and data reports for state and federal sponsors as well as co-authoring papers and presentations.

Fall 1999
Research Assistant, Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
Assisted a professor in presenting his research on socially withdrawn children and children suffering from fetal alcohol effect and fetal alcohol syndrome. Responsibilities included word processing, manuscript and presentation preparation, data entry, and topic research.

2004-2005
Teaching Assistant, Graduate Center, City University of New York
New York, NY
Assisted teaching a doctoral-level statistics and computer programming class offered to first and second-year social science students. Responsibilities included holding office hours, advising students on homework and programming assignments, and grading homework assignments and exams.

1997-1997
Tutor, Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
Taught German grammar and German literature individually and in a group setting to fellow undergraduate students. Designed case-specific curriculum for readings, understanding, and interpreting classic German literature.

Clinical Experience

1999 – 2000
Mental Health Assistant, Carrier Foundation, Belle Mead, NJ
Supervised and assisted hospitalized psychiatric patients in activities of daily living. Led and co-led group therapies such as Community Meetings, Recreational Therapy, and Alcohol Education. Provided a safe and therapeutic environment among patients and staff.

Spring 1999
Intern, Princeton Child Development Institute, Princeton, NJ
Observed and supervised children, aged two to five, with Autism. Assisted in acquiring new behaviors through behavior modification techniques including token economies and reinforcement schedules. Assisted in the creation and design of new curriculum.

Languages

Fluent in German and English; conversant in French.

Professional and Honor Societies

· Alpha Epsilon Zeta, National Honor Society for Summa Cum Laude Graduates

· American Psychological Association

· Delta Phi Alpha, National Honor Society in German

· Honor Key Society, National Honor Society for Liberal Arts and Science Students

· Omicron Delta Kappa, National Honor Society in Leadership

· Order of Omega, National Greek Honor Society

· Psi Chi, National Honor Society in Psychology

· Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

Computer Skills

Skilled in database and word-processing programs; data entry with Data Entry Builder; statistical analysis with SAS and SPSS; familiarity in longitudinal data analysis with SAS; cluster analysis with SLEIPNER, Internet.

Publications

Greenwood, R.M., Schaefer-McDaniel, N.J., Winkel, G., & Tsemberis, S. (in press). Decreasing psychiatric symptoms by increasing choice in services for adults with histories of homelessness. American Journal of Community Psychology.

Schaefer-McDaniel, N.J. (2004). Conceptualizing social capital among young people: Towards a new theory. Children, Youth, and Environments, 14 (1), 153-172.

Stefancic, A., Schaefer-McDaniel, N.J., Davis, A.C., & Tsemberis, S. (2004). Maximizing follow-up of adults with histories of homelessness and psychiatric disabilities. Evaluation and Program Planning, 27 (4), 433-442.

Schaefer, N.J., & Stefancic, A. (2003). ‘Alternative to prison’ programs for the mentally ill offender. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 38 (2), 41-55.

Schaefer, N.J. (2002). Stress, social networks, and depression among homeless individuals with mental illness: An examination of the buffering hypothesis. Unpublished master’s thesis, New York University, New York.

Schaefer-McDaniel, N. & Krenichyn, K. (2005, March). 21st Century Community Learning Centers Evaluation Progress to Date. Report presented to the Children’s Aid Society, New York, New York.

Schaefer-McDaniel, N.J. (2004, September). Psychological aspects and empirical observations:Exploring social capital with youth. Presented at the International Research Symposium on Social Capital and Children, Danish University of Education, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Schaefer-McDaniel, N.J. (2004, August). Social capital among young people: A new theory. Paper presented at the Children’s Geographies conference, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK.

Greenwood, R.M., Schaefer, N.J., Winkel, G., & Tsemberis, S. (2004, August). A longitudinal study of consumer choice, homelessness, and psychiatric symptoms. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, HI.

Greenwood, R.M., Schaefer, N.J., Winkel, G., & Tsemberis, S. (2004, January). Decreasing psychiatric symptoms by increasing choice in services among homeless adults. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX.

Tsemberis, S., Gulcur, L., Greenwood, R.M., & Schaefer, N.J. (2003, January). CSAT Program Effectiveness Study: A 3-Year Follow-Up. Paper presented to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Washington, D.C.

Tsemberis, S., Gulcur L., Schaefer, N.J., & Shinn, M. (2002, January). CSAT Program Effectiveness Study: A 2-Year Follow-Up. Paper presented to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Washington, D.C.

Tsemberis, S., Gulcur, L., Schaefer, N.J., & Shinn, M. (2001, November). Office of Mental Health: 24-Month Activity and Data Report. Paper presented to the New York State Office of Mental Health, Albany, NY.

Schaefer, N.J., & Brosvic, G.M. (2000, April). Differential reinforcement of eye contact among socially withdrawn children. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Baltimore, MD.

Schaefer, N.J., & Brosvic, G.M. (2000, April). Behavioral programming for a Fetal Alcohol Effects and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome child. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Baltimore, MD.