Nava Silton

Title

Associate Professor of Psychology

Department

Psychology

Email

nsilton@mmm.edu

Phone

212-774-4883

About

Dr. Nava R. Silton received her Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology in Human Development in 2002, then went on to complete a Master’s and Doctorate in Developmental Psychology from Fordham University in 2009. Nava’s primary research interests include determining how best to enhance typical children’s sensitivity to children with disabilities, how to teach social emotional skills to children on the spectrum, and looking at the interface between religion and health. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate psychology courses at Fordham University, Hunter College, and Touro College, and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Marymount Manhattan College. Nava has written over three dozen peer-reviewed journal articles, over twenty chapters, book reviews and encyclopedia entries, and has edited five full textbooks. Her first two books discuss innovative technologies for individuals with autism and other disabilities, her third delves into creativity, her fourth into family dynamics and romantic relationships, and her most recent explores the constructs of happiness, gratitude, kindness, empathy, and well-being.

In an effort to expand beyond academics, Nava has brought her research interests and knowledge to other mediums. She has worked at Nickelodeon, Sesame Street Workshop, and Mediakidz and has consulted for Netflix and The Autism Seaver Center. She appears regularly on Fox 5 News as a Psychological Correspondent, as well as Good Day New York and NBC. Nava created the The Realabilities Educational Comic Book Series, which offers 12 comics and two instructional manuals for use in classrooms across the world. The series has been translated into Hebrew and Spanish and is currently being translated into Chinese. The success of Realabilities prompted Nava to write Addy & Uno, The First Family Musical about Disabilities, Bullying and Kindness, using Avenue Q style puppets that is now an Off-Broadway production at The Kirk Theater on Theatre Row. Realabilities and Addy & Uno fill a significant void in children’s media and literature so that individuals with disabilities can see themselves represented positively on-screen, and typical children and adults can become increasingly knowledgeable, sensitive, and interested in their peers with disabilities. Moreover, the comic series and show seek to promote the important values of kindness, friendship, empathy, and gratitude.

Degree(s)

B.S., Cornell University
M.A., Fordham University
Ph.D., Fordham University

Recent Work

Selected Recent Publications:

Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (In Press). Liking. Encyclopedia of Intimate Relationships and Families.
Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (2018). What if Goodness Ruled the World? Utilizing A Comic Book Series and Puppet Musical to Inspire Empathy and to Promote a Disabilities Awareness and Stop Bullying Platform in and out of the Schools. In Silton (ed.), IGI Global Publishing, Scientific Concepts behind Happiness, Kindness, and Empathy in Contemporary Society.
Silton, N.R., Fontanilla, E., Femia, M., & Rouse, K. (2018). Employing Disability Simulations and Preliminary Virtual Reality Technology to Foster Cognitive and Affective Empathy towards Individuals with Disabilities. In Silton (ed.), IGI Global Publishing, Scientific Concepts behind Happiness, Kindness, and Empathy in Contemporary Society.

Selected Recent Presentations:

Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (August 2018). Addy and Uno: The Efficacy of an Off-Broadway Musical in Enhancing Sensitivity Toward Peers With Disabilities. Poster presentation at American Psychological Association (APA), San Francisco, CA, August 9-12.
Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (May 2018). The Combination of the Addy & Uno Off Broadway Musical and the Realabilities Comic Book Series Curriculum in Enhancing the Knowledge, Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Typical Children Towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation at Association for Psychological Science (APS), San Francisco, CA, May 24-27.

Research

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications:

Silton, N.R. & Ferris, A. (2017). I want to know what love is: The ingredients of liking, attraction, dating and successful marital relationships. In Silton (ed.) Family Dynamics and Romantic Relationships in a Changing Society, IGI Global Publishing.
Marmo, J. & Silton, N. (2017). The coming out experience of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. In Silton (ed.) Family Dynamics and Romantic Relationships in a Changing Society, IGI Global Publishing.
Silton, N.R. & Chera, D. (2017). Fearlessness. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T.K. Shackelford (eds.)’s Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer International Publishing, 1-3.
Silton, N.R. & Ferris, A. (2017). Hostility. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T.K. Shackelford (eds.)’s Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer International Publishing.
Ferris, A. & Silton, N.R. (2017). Separation Insecurity. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T.K. Shackelford (eds.)’s Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer International Publishing.
Silton, N.R. (2016). Realabilities: Opening new creative vistas to stimulate changes in typical students’ attitudes and behavioral intentions towards peers with disabilities. In Exploring the Benefits of Creativity in Education, Media and the Arts, IGI Global Publishing.
Silton, N.R. (2016). Enhancing behavioral intentions and cognitive attitudes of typical children towards children with disabilities. Medical Research Archives.
Silton, N.R. (2016). Informing our interventions with the wisdom of the sages: Biblical and rabbinic inspiration for enhancing sensitivity towards individuals with disabilities. In M. Ben Avie, Y. Ives, & Lowenthal, C. (Eds.). Applied Jewish Values/Social Science and Psychology.
Galek, K., Flannelly, K.J., Ellison, C.G., Silton, N.R., & Jankowski, K.B. (2015). Religion, meaning and purpose in life and mental health. Psychology of Religion and Health, 7(1), 1-12.

Selected Presentations:

Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (May 2018). The Combination of the Addy & Uno Off Broadway Musical and the Realabilities Comic Book Series Curriculum in Enhancing the Knowledge, Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Typical Children Towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation at Marymount Manhattan College Annual Division of Science Conference, Manhattan, NY, May 9.
Silton, N.R., Riley, P., & Frossard, R. (March 2018). The Combination of the Addy & Uno Off Broadway Musical and the Realabilities Comic Book Series Curriculum in Enhancing the Knowledge, Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Typical Children Towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation at Marymount Manhattan College Honors Day, Manhattan, New York, March 14.
Silton, N.R., Riley, P., & Frossard, R. (March 2018). Evaluating the Efficacy of Addy & Uno, The First Family Musical About Disability, Friendship and Kindness: Enhancing Positive Attitudes and Intentions of Typical Children towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation Eastern Psychological Association (EPA), Philadelphia, PA, March 1- 3.
Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (November 2017). “It’s Nice to Be Nice”: Assessing the Efficacy of The Addy & Uno Musical and The Realabilities Educational Comic Book Curriculum. Oral PowerPoint presentation at The Greater New York Conference on Behavior Research, Fordham University, Manhattan, NY, November 19.
Silton, N.R.,Villetto, D., Norley, K., Klifi-Amir, S., Riley, P. Untalan, A., Barnwell, C., & Chera, D. (August 2017). It’s Show Time: The Impact of the Realabilities Puppet Show Musical on Children’s Cognitive Atttitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation at American Psychological Association (APA), Washington, D.C., August 3.
Silton, N.R.,Villetto, D., Norley, K., Klifi-Amir, S., Riley, P. Untalan, A., Ferris , C., & Chera, D. (March 2017). It’s Nice to Be Nice: The Impact of the Realabilities Puppet Show Musical on Children’s Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation Eastern Psychological Association (EPA), Boston, MA, March 16- 18.

See Dr. Silton’s website for additional publications

Professional Experience

Sample Press & Media Appearances:

See Dr. Silton’s website for additional media appearances

Location

Carson Hall 706