Brenda Jones Harden, PhD

Brenda Jones Harden is the Ruth Harris Ottman Professor of Child and Family Welfare at the Columbia University School of Social Work and Professor Emerita of Human Development at the University of Maryland. She directs the Prevention and Early Adversity Research Laboratory, where she and her research team examine the developmental and mental health needs of young children who have experienced early adversity and toxic stress, particularly those who have been maltreated, are in foster care, or have experienced other forms of trauma. A particular focus is preventing maladaptive outcomes in these populations through early childhood programs, which she has implemented and evaluated. Dr. Jones Harden is a scientist-practitioner who uses research to improve the quality and effectiveness of child and family services and to inform child and family policy, especially in the areas of home visiting, early care and education, infant/early childhood mental health, and child welfare. She is currently a site Principal Investigator and Associate Director of the largest U.S. research study to examine the brain and behavioral development of young children who have experienced adversity (i.e., Healthy Brain and Child Development; hbcdstudy.org). She is the immediate past-President of the Board of Zero to Three, and has served on various federal and state advisory boards, local program boards, and foundation advisory boards. She received a PhD in developmental and clinical psychology from Yale University and a Master’s in Social Work from New York University.