Professional Bio

Jennifer Murray Connell, MSW, LCSW is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at Penn State and a licensed clinical social worker. A Penn State alumna, she earned her bachelor's degree in political science and completed her Master of Social Work at the University of South Carolina. She has more than 25 years of experience providing clinical, supervisory, teaching, and consultative services to children, youth, adults, and families across university, school, and community settings.

Since joining Penn State in 2017, Jennifer has split her time between the Penn State Psychological Clinic and the Child Study Center. She teaches the undergraduate practicum courses Friendship Group and We Are Connected, which prepare students to implement evidence-based, group-based interventions that promote social competence, connection, belonging, and effective communication from early childhood through emerging adulthood. In these roles, she oversees program implementation, community outreach, recruitment of student facilitators and participants, curriculum development, and clinical supervision. She also provides direct clinical services and supervises undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate clinicians, with an emphasis on ethical practice, evidence-based intervention, and professional skill development.

Jennifer’s work reflects a cohesive focus on social skills development and relationship-building across contexts. Through Friendship Group Practicum and Program, she trains students to deliver structured social skills interventions for elementary-aged children targeting communication, self-regulation, cooperation, and problem solving. Through We Are Connected, she guides students in facilitating curricula that strengthen peer connection, conflict navigation, and supportive communication among college students. These training experiences are closely integrated with her clinical work supervising and leading social skills groups in the Psychological Clinic, translating evidence-based group intervention principles into applied clinical practice across the lifespan. Her work is further informed by her role as a Child Maltreatment Solutions Network Affiliate, grounding her teaching and supervision in trauma-informed, prevention-focused frameworks.

Prior to returning to Penn State, Jennifer spent eighteen years in the New Haven, Connecticut area, including serving as a Clinical Instructor of Social Work at the Yale Child Study Center and as Social Work and School Counselor Coordinator for Achievement First Connecticut. Across her career, she has maintained a strong commitment to training and mentorship and has served as a field instructor for graduate social work students from multiple universities. In 2024, she received the Penn State Child Study Center Above and Beyond Award.

PUBLICATIONS

Bierman, K.L., Liben, L.S., Small, M., Connell, J., Heinrichs, B., Menold, J., Miller, S., Mannweiler, M. D. (2025). Guided Activity Kids Impact Parents’ Scaffolding of Child STEM Play. Learning and Instruction, 96.10282.

Bierman, K. L., Small, M., Liben, L. S., Connell, J., Menold, J., Miller, S., Mannweiler, M. D. (2024). Guided STEM Activity Kits for Parents with Preschool Children: Design, Frequency of Use, and Parent Evaluation. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 38(4), 540–558.