Dorothy Espelage

Dorothy Espelage is a professor of educational psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, and an international expert in bullying, youth aggression, and teen dating violence. She has authored several books including Bullying in North American Schools, Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Realistic Strategies for Schools, and Handbook of Bullying in Schools: an International Perspective.

Espelage grew up in Virginia and received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She then received a master's degree in clinical psychology from Radford University before receiving her PhD in counseling psychology from Indiana University. Since 1997 she has worked at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she currently holds the Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell professorship in educational psychology.

Espelage has appeared as a speaker and consultant in numerous media outlets such as CNN, Anderson Cooper, Oprah, Huffington Post, and USA Today. Recently, she was invited to the White House in 2011 as a part of the Bullying Summit to discuss policy decisions regarding aggression in schools. Likewise, she was awarded the lifetime achievement award from the American Psychological Association's Division 17 for Counseling Psychology. As the author of over 100 publications, Espelage is known for her work in bullying, homophobic teasing, sexual harassment, and teen dating violence. In particular, her research focuses on translating empirical findings into prevention and intervention programming. As a result, Espelage regularly speaks at conferences and schools to teachers, parents, and children about why bullying occurs, why bystanders do not assist victims, and what individuals can do to respond to stop school bullying, harassment, and violence. Espelage is an advisor to the anti-bullying organization Bystander Revolution.