Bianca DeBellis

Bianca R. DeBellis, LMSW, M.Ed is a doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. She began her career working as a Special Education teacher for the NYCDOE through the AmeriCorps program the New York City Teaching Fellows. She later transitioned to a social work role where she maintained placement in the Bronx, NY. In this role, she provided students counseling and worked on a multi-disciplinary team to support students holistically through social-emotional interventions and restorative practices. She directed the implementation of a school wide mental-health curriculum which covered topics including suicide awareness, anxiety management, self-esteem and emotional regulation. Additionally, she supported staff trainings on suicide prevention, trauma-informed education practices and restorative practices.

DeBellis’s research interests include utilizing trauma-informed interventions and restorative practices to mitigate the school-to-prison pipeline and provide better social emotional and academic outcomes for all students with a particular interest in students with trauma. She hopes to contribute to the advancement of social work and education through both research and practice by focusing on a holistic student model addressing the rights of dignity, diversity and social justice. 

DeBellis is currently mentored by Dr. James Huguley and will contribute to the Just Discipline Project by working closely with new trauma implementations.

DeBellis, received her BA in Sociology from Boston College, her Masters in Education from Hunter College, and her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University.