Marney Pollack

Marney Pollack is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, Child and Family Studies, at the UConn School of Medicine. Prior to joining the UConn Health faculty, Marney held several roles in the fields of special education and behavioral health, including special education paraeducator (West Hartford Public Schools), psychopharmaceutical research assistant (Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital), and lead project coordinator (UConn Neag School of Education).

With philosophical roots in behaviorism and humanism, Marney studies school-based, trauma-informed behavior supports for children with or at risk for disabilities. She seeks to (a) understand the factors associated with positive social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes and (b) develop and evaluate intensive interventions that target these factors and promote student progress. Grounded in her training as a special educator and behavior analyst, Marney’s areas of specialization include functional behavior assessment, function-based intervention, emotional/behavioral disorders, interdisciplinary collaboration, and single case research designs. Her research and other professional activities are motivated by a commitment to dismantle systemic barriers that limit historically marginalized groups’ equitable access to—and meaningful inclusion in—the public education system.

Marney received her Ph.D. and M.S. in special education with an emphasis in applied behavior analysis from Vanderbilt University in 2023 and 2020, respectively. She earned her B.A. in psychological science from Central Connecticut State University in 2016.