Biography & Media Experience

As a psychologist, nationally certified school psychologist, graduate school professor and university professor of pediatrics, Dr. Richard Selznick has great sensitivity for the topic of discouraged learners. He has consulted with thousands of families over the years on the issues related to The Shut-Down Learner. Included in the book are numerous case studies drawn from his vast professional experiences.

Dr. Selznick has a particular passion and interest in helping children with reading disabilities (dyslexia). As Director of the Cooper Learning Center, Dr. Selznick oversees a program that assesses and treats a broad range of learning and school-based academic and behavioral problems. The Cooper Learning Center is a Division of the Department of Pediatrics, of Cooper University Hospital. The Hospital is a leading teaching hospital in the region. With its affiliation to UMDNJ (University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey), the hospital is known for its many cutting edge programs and faculty as among the best in the region. The Cooper Learning Center was established in 1995. It is the leading program in the region offering a variety of different services, including parent and teacher training along with its clinical practice.

In addition to his role as Director of the Cooper Learning Center, Dr. Selznick functions as a school consultant, and is asked to lecture frequently to parents and teachers on a variety of different topics. Over the years, he has spoken to numerous parent groups through schools, regional conferences, and lectures at Cooper University Hospital and the newly established Cooper Center for Women. Popular topics of his include: “Shut-Down Learners: Breaking the Downward Cycle,” “Myth’s & Realities of Dyslexia,” “Dealing With Bullying: Is Your Child a Shark or Shark Meat,” “ Regaining Control of the Ship: Approaches With Challenging Young Children,” “Managing Your ADHD in College,” among many others.

Dr. Selznick is known in the community for presenting with humor and a down to earth style, offering the audience an enjoyable experience, with practical and very applicable strategies for the challenging issues they face with their children. Dr. Selznick also teaches gradate school courses in the College of Education at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Media Experience

Over the years, Dr. Selznick has been invited to appear on radio and television to discuss a variety of children’s issues. Within the last year, he appeared on the nationally syndicated Lynne Doyle show, “It’s Your Call.” The topic of discussion was whether same-sex schools were advantageous.

In the summer of 2007, Dr. Selznick was an invited guest on the Michael Smerconish radio show (1210 WPHT) to discuss the current trend of “redshirting” kindergarten students.