Faculty and Staff Profile

Susan P. Limber

Educational Background

Ph.D. Developmental Psychology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1992

M.L.S. Legal Studies
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1990

M.A. Psychology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1990

B.A. Psychology
University of Virginia 1985

Courses Taught

Human Development and Family Life in Cultural Context (FCS 8110)
International Law and Policy on Children's Issues (FCS 8510)
Cross-cultural Human Development (PSYC 4800)
Lifespan Development (PSYC 3400)

Profile

Susan Limber, PhD., MLS, is the Dan Olweus Professor at Clemson University, where she has an appointment in the Department of Psychology. She also serves as Graduate Program Director for the PhD in International Family & Community Studies. She is a developmental psychologist who also holds a Masters of Legal Studies. Prior to coming to Clemson, she was the Associate Director in the Institute for Families in Society at the University of South Carolina. After receiving her PhD, she served two years as the James Marshal Public Policy Fellow for the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), where she worked in the Public Policy Office at the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Limber's research and writing have focused on psychological and legal issues related to bullying among children, as well as youth civic engagement, and children's rights. From 2001-2016, she provided consultation to bullying prevention efforts supported Health Resources and Services Administration (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Dr. Limber has published numerous articles and chapters on the topic of bullying. She has co-authored key resource materials for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and co-authored the book, Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Digital Age.

Research Interests

Psychological and legal issues related to violence among children and youth (particularly bullying)
Children's rights
Youth civic engagement
Youth participation

My research on bullying, which has spanned nearly 25 years, has focused on understanding the nature, prevalence, risk and protective factors, and outcomes of bullying on children and youth, as well as the large-scale implementation evaluation of bullying prevention efforts in schools and communities. I have participated on several national advisory groups examining the definition of bullying (CDC), laws and policies related to bullying (U.S. Department of Education), and the effects of bullying and cyberbullying on youth (CDC). My research has also focused on children's understanding of their rights, and the recognition of children's rights in national and international policies. Publications include one of the first empirical examinations of children's rights in an emerging democracy (Estonia), and several articles on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Additional areas of research interests include youth participation (particularly withing schools) and civic engagement among children and youth.

Research Publications

Limber, S., Breivik, K., & Smith, P. K. (2021). Dan Olweus (1931-2020). International Journal of Bullying Prevention. doi: 10.1007/s42380-021-00096-5.

Olweus, D., Limber, S. P., Riese, J., Urbanski, J., Solberg, M. E., & Breivik, K. (2021). The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP): Development and consolidation. In P. Smith and J. O’Higgins Norman (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell handbook on bullying (pp. 404-422). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

Limber, S. P. & Kowalski, R. M. (2020). How schools often make a bad situation worse. International Journal on Child Maltreatment: Research, Policy and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42448-020-00045-7

Olweus, D., & Limber, S. P. (2019). The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP): New evaluations and current status. In P. K. Smith (Ed.), Making an impact on school bullying (pp. 23-44). New York: Routledge

Huynh, H., Limber, S. P., Gray, C. L., Thompson, M. P., Wasonga, A. I., Vann, V., Itemba, D., Eticha, M., Madan, I., & Whetten, K. (2019). Factors affecting the psychosocial well-being of orphan and separated children in five low- and middle-income countries: which is more important, quality of care or care setting? PLOS-ONE, 14(6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218100 J

Olweus, D., Limber, S. P., & Breivik, K. (2019). Addressing specific forms of bullying: A large-scale evaluation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 1, 70-84.

Kowalski, R., Limber, S. P., & McCord, A. (2019). A developmental approach to cyberbullying: Prevalence and protective factors. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 45, 20-32.

Agatston, P. W., & Limber, S. P. (2018). Cyberbullying prevention and intervention: Promising approaches and recommendations for further evaluation. In J. U. Gordon (Ed.), Bullying prevention and intervention at school: Integrating theory and research into best practices (pp. 73-93). Springer.

Lebrun-Harris, L. A., Sherman, L. J., Limber, S. P., Miller, B. D., & Edgerton, E. A. (2018). Bullying Victimization and Perpetration among U.S. Children and Adolescents: 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health. Journal of Child and Family Studies. Published online 06/27/18.

Limber, S. P., Olweus, D., Wang, W., Masiello, M., & Breivik, K. (2018). Evaluation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: A large scale study of U.S. students in grades 3-11. Journal of School Psychology, 69(4).

Olweus, D. & Limber, S. P. (2017). Some problems with cyberbullying research. Current Opinion in Psychology, 19, 239-143.

Limber, S. P. & Olweus, D. (2017). Lessons learned from scaling up the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. In C. Bradshaw (Ed.), Handbook of bullying prevention: A lifecourse perspective (pp. 189-199). Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers Press.

Limber, S. P., Agatston, P., Kowalski, R. & Huynh, H. (2016). Bullying and Children with Disabilities. In O. Saracho & B. Spodek (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives in early childhood education (pp. 129-155). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Limber, S. P., Snyder, M., Riese, J., & Mullin, N. (2016). More class meetings that matter: Resources for grades K-5. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Limber, S. P., Snyder, M., Riese, J., & Mullin, N. (2016). More class meetings that matter: Resources for grades 6-8. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Limber, S. P., Snyder, M., Riese, J., & Mullin, N. (2016). More class meetings that matter: Resources for grades 9-12. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Olweus, D. & Limber, S. P. (2016). Five key components in a global strategy against bullying. In Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (Ed.), Ending the torment: tackling bullying from the schoolyard to cyberspace (pp. 67-73). New York: United Nations Press.

Limber, S. P., Bryn, S. & Wang, W. (2016). School climate. In F. Rivara & E. A. Zenni, (Eds.), School health: Policy and practice (pp. 293-309). Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Edgerton, E., Reiney, E., Mueller, S., Reicherter, B., Curtis, K., Waties, S., & Limber, S. P. (2016). Identifying new strategies to assess and promote online health communication and social media outreach: An application in bullying prevention. Health Promotion Practice, 17(3), 448-456.

Cornell, D. & Limber, S. P. (2015). Law and policy on the concept of bullying at school. American Psychologist, 70, 333-343.

Grover, H. M., Limber, S. P., & Boberiene, L. V. (2015). Does it matter if students experience school as a place of community? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 85, S79-S85.

Limber, S. P., Riese, J., Snyder, M., & Olweus, D. (2014). The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: Efforts to address risks associated with suicide and suicide-related behaviors. In P. B. Goldblum, D. L. Espelage, & J. Chu, (Eds.), Youth suicide and bullying: Challenges and strategies for prevention and intervention. New York: Oxford.

Limber, S., Kowalski, R. M., & Agatston, P. (2014). Cyberbullying: A prevention curriculum for grades 3-5 (2nd ed.) Center City, MN: Hazelton.

Limber, S., Kowalski, R. M., & Agatston, P. (2014). Cyberbullying: A prevention curriculum for grades 6-12 (2nd ed.) Center City, MN: Hazelton.

Limber, S. P., Kowalski, R. M., & Agatston, P. W. (2014). Cyberbullying. In D. Gentile (Ed.), Media violence and children: A complete guide for parents and professionals (pp. 271-300). Westport, CT: Praeger.

Limber, S. P., & Wang, W. (2014). Bullying. In A. C. Michalos (Ed.), Encyclopedia of quality of life research. New York: Springer.

Snyder, M. J., Riese, J., Olweus, D., Limber, S. P., & Gorseth, S. (2014). Community Youth Organization Guide: Practical Strategies from the OBPP. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Limber, Susan P. (2013). Best Practices in the prevention of bullying: An example of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. In M. Masiello & D. L. Schroeder (Eds.), A Public Health Approach to Bullying Prevention (pp. 127-148). Washington, DC: APHA Press.

Holt, M. K., Razynski, K., Frey, K. S., Hymel, S., & Limber, S. P. (2013). School and community-based approaches for preventing bullying. Journal of School Violence, 12, 238-252.

Kowalski, R. M. & Limber, S. P. (2013). Psychological, physical, and academic correlates of cyberbullying and traditional bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53, S13-S20.

Snyder, M. S., Riese, J., & Limber, S. P. (2013). High school class meetings and individual interventions: A video training program for school staff. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Kowalski, R. M., Morgan, C. A., & Limber, S. P. (2012). Traditional bullying as a potential warning sign of cyberbullying. School Psychology International, 33, 505-512.

Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P., & Agatston, P. W. (2012). Cyber bullying: Bullying in the digital age (2nd Ed.) New York: Wiley/Blackwell.

Snyder, M., Riese, J., Limber, S. P., & Mullin, N. (2012). Class meetings that matter: A year’s worth of resources for grades 9-12. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Limber, S. P. (2011). Development, evaluation, and future directions of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Journal of School Violence, 10, 71-87.

Limber, S. P. (2010). Implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: Lessons learned from the field. In D. Espelage & S. Swearer (Eds.), Bullying in North American schools: A social-ecological perspective on prevention and intervention (2nd ed.) (pp. 291-306). New York: Routledge.

Olweus, D. & Limber, S. P. (2010). Bullying in school: Evaluation and dissemination of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80, 124-134.

Olweus, D. & Limber, S. P. (2010). The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: Implementation and Evaluation Over Two Decades. In S. R. Jimerson, S. M. Swearer, & D L. Espelage (Eds.), Handbook of bullying in schools: An international perspective (pp. 377-401). New York: Routledge.

Alley, R. & Limber, S. P. (2009). Legal issues for school personnel. In S. M. Swearer, D. L. Espelage, & S. A. Napolitano (Eds.), Bullying prevention and intervention: Realistic strategies for schools (pp. 53-73). New York: Guilford.

Flerx, V., Limber, S. P. Mullin, N., Riese, J., & Snyder, M. (2009). Class meetings that matter: A year’s worth of resources for grades K-5. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Flerx, V., Limber, S. P. Mullin, N., Riese, J., & Snyder, M. (2009). Class meetings that matter: A year’s worth of resources for grades 6-8. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Limber, S. P., Agatston, P. W., & Kowalski, R. (2009). Cyber bullying: A prevention curriculum for grades 3-5. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Swearer, S. M., Limber, S. P., & Alley, R. (2009). Developing and implementing and effective anti-bullying policy. In S. M. Swearer, D. L. Espelage, & S. A. Napolitano (Eds.), Bullying prevention and intervention: Realistic strategies for schools (pp. 39-52) New York: Guilford.

Flerx, V. C., Limber, S. P., Mullin, N., Olweus, D., Riese, J., & Snyder, M. (2008). Class meetings and individual interventions: A how-to guide and DVDs. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Limber, S. P., Agatston, P. W., & Kowalski, Ro. M. (2008). Cyber bullying: A prevention curriculum for grades 6-12. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P., & Agatston, P. W. (2008). Cyber bullying: Bullying in the digital age. New York: Blackwell.

Honors and Awards

2011: Distinguished Career Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Service Psychology, Division of Psychologists in Public Service (American Psychological Association)
2012: Nicholas Hobbs Award, Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice (Division 37 of APA)
2018: Research, Scholarship and Artistic Achievement Award, Clemson University
2018: Award for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Collaboration, College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University