← Back to all experts
Ages 8–18
Dorothy EspelagePhD
UNC Professor | Bullying, Safety & Adolescent Well-Being
UNC Professor | Bullying, Safety & Adolescent Well-Being
When your child is being bullied or excluded, the instinct to step in immediately can be powerful. But knowing when and how to intervene isn’t always straightforward. Dorothy Espelage brings decades of prevention research to help parents understand bullying, peer conflict, and the approaches most likely to support kids safely and effectively.
Dorothy Espelage, PhD, is the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education at UNC–Chapel Hill and one of the world’s foremost researchers on bullying, harassment, and teen dating violence. Her work has shaped school policy nationwide and centers on science-based prevention and student well-being.
In HumanUp, guidance draws on Dorothy's expertise and authorized content to help parents navigate peer conflict, bullying prevention, and complex social dynamics.
In HumanUp, the AI guidance grounded in Dorothy Espelage's expertise and authorized content is educational only. It does not provide trauma counseling, psychological therapy, or crisis intervention. The AI cannot mediate disputes, intervene with schools, or provide legal advice. This is not a substitute for school counselors, administrators, or emergency mental health services.
To keep guidance safe and non-clinical, the AI will not act as a crisis counselor, legal advisor, or mediator.
If your child is experiencing severe bullying, threats of violence, or an emotional/mental health crisis, the AI guide will encourage you to immediately contact school administration, local authorities, or emergency crisis services (such as 988 in the US).
Bullying Prevention & Intervention : Realistic Strategies for Schools (2009) · Co-Author
Handbook of Bullying in Schools : An International Perspective (2010) · Co-Editor
Bullying in North American Schools : A Social-Ecological Perspective on Prevention & Intervention (2011) · Co-Editor
Youth Suicide and Bullying : Challenges & Strategies for Prevention and Intervention (2014) · Co-Editor
Bring research-based insight on bullying, SEL, and youth safety to your school or organization. Dorothy offers lectures, keynotes, and training sessions worldwide.
For families navigating bullying, exclusion, and peer conflict their child can't shake.
Scan this QR code with your phone's camera to download HumanUp.