Paula McCommons, Ed.D.

Dr. Paula McCommons received her B.A. in psychology from Seton Hill College in Greensburg. She studied in London for six months and interned in a psychiatric day hospital there. In 1992 she received her M. Ed. in Educational Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh, where she later received her Ed.D. in Administration. Dr. McCommons is a nationally certified counselor with specialties in school and career counseling. She is also a PA certified guidance counselor and student personnel specialist.

Dr. McCommons is currently a mental health liaison for the UPMC/WPIC County Student Assistance Program. As part of the state-mandated Student Assistance Program, in one of Pittsburgh's largest public high schools, Dr. McCommons is responsible for providing individual screenings of at-risk students and for assisting families in accessing appropriate referrals both in and out of school. At school, Dr. McCommons serves on the core team, conducts skill-based presentations and groups for students, and is available for consultations with faculty and parents. 

At STAR-Center Outreach, Dr. McCommons and her colleagues provide crisis intervention, postvention follow-up and consultation to school districts and communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Training and special topic presentations are provided upon request. In addition to the variety of duties she has at STAR, Dr. McCommons works as an independent contractor creating and facilitating workshops in conflict mediation training, student leadership development, staff development, stress management, and career life planning. Dr. McCommons has also co-taught graduate level courses in Group Dynamics, and Conflict Resolution at the University of Pittsburgh.

email: mccommonsps@upmc.edu