Katie C. Hart

Katie (Kat) Hart, PhD, (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Florida International University. She is the Director of the Center for Children and Families and a core faculty member of the Clinical Science in Child and Adolescent Psychology PhD program.

Dr. Hart completed her undergraduate training at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee before attending The State University of New York at Buffalo for her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology. She completed her clinical internship at the University of Miami's Mailman Center for Child Development where she specialized in preschool and early interventions for children ages 0-5. She joined FIU as a postdoctoral fellow in Intervention Research for Children with Disruptive Behavior Disorders in 2012 and transitioned to a tenure-track faculty position in 2014.

Dr. Hart’s research, which has garnered over $20M in funding at FIU, examines ADHD and related behavior disorders and learning challenges among young children. She directs the School R.E.A.D.Y Lab, the Reading Explorers Program, the FIU Summer Academy in Liberty City, and The Children’s Trust Parent Club at FIU. She also co-directs the Summer Treatment Program for PreKindergarteners (STP-PreK).

Under her leadership, the Reading Explorers Program received Pacesetter honors from the National Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in 2020 and 2023 for its impact on reducing summer learning loss and enhancing after-school success in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Dr. Hart has spearheaded numerous school-based initiatives promoting positive behavior across Miami-Dade County. She currently serves on several committees including the Superintendent's District Advisory Panel for Exceptional Student Education (ESE), Early Childhood Special Education Sub-Committee, the Health Equity & Special Needs and Early Learning/Workforce Development committees of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's Blue Ribbon Commission for Children, FIU's Special Education Advisory Board, chairs the Afterschool and Summer Slide Committee of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in Miami-Dade, and has served as the co-chair of Miami-Dade's Young Children with Special Needs and Disabilities Council (YCSNDC).

Dr. Hart’s community-engaged clinical service and research programs have positively impacted over 15,000 families. Her dedication has been recognized with an FIU CASE award for Excellence in Community Engagement in 2016, an FIU Faculty Senate award for Excellence in Engagement in 2018, and FIU Top Scholar honors in 2015, 2019, and 2024.

Research Areas

• School readiness in young children with or at-risk for ADHD and related disruptive behavior disorders and early learning problems
• Development, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based early interventions across home, school, clinic and community settings
• Teacher training and implementation of evidence-based practices in classroom settings for children with ADHD

Education

• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, FL
• PhD, Clinical Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
• Clinical Internship, Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
• MA, Clinical Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
• BS, Child Development and Cognitive Studies, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN