V. Scott Solberg

Dr. V. Scott Solberg is a professor in the Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development Department at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development.  He works internationally and nationally on the design, implementation, and evaluation of effective career development programs and services, especially for high-need youth populations, including youth with disabilities.

As part of the Center for Future Readiness, Dr. Solberg’s research, professional development, and curriculum is shaping the career development implementation policies and practices in the United States and around the world. His work with the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has resulted in his being considered a leading expert in the design, implementation, and evaluation of individualized learning plans (ILPs). His book Making School Relevant with Individualized Learning Plans: Helping Students Create Their Own Career and Life Goals (Harvard Education Press) describes the culmination of his ILP research as well as his experiences in designing social-emotional learning efforts with educators at South Division High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Dr. Solberg leads the State Leaders Career Development Network that showcases innovative ILP implementation efforts to a cross-sector of policy leaders from 30 states. Internationally, he and Dr. Lea Ferrari (University of Padova, Italy) are collaborating with over 15 countries on a cross-cultural study of educator perceptions of social emotional learning and career readiness. He participates as a subject matter expert in providing resources, presentations, webinars, and consultation services for a number of organizations and agencies including CASEL, Education Commission of the States, ODEPs State Exchange on Employment & Disability, IES Regional Educational Laboratories and Comprehensive Centers, Council of Chief State School Officers, America’s Promise Alliance, the National Coalition for Career Development, Institute for Educational Leadership, the International Center for Career Development Policy and Practice, Romania Institute for Educational Sciences, Wisconsin Department of Instruction, Colorado Department of Education, Arizona Department of Education, Delaware United Way, Padua University, and the EU NICE Academy.

In 2019, Dr. Solberg was appointed by the US Department of Education to serve on the Perkins V Independent Advisory Panel.  He is author of ScholarCentric, a resiliency curriculum used in schools throughout the country, coedited (with Saba Ali Rasheed) the Handbook of Career and Workforce Development: Research, Practice and Policy from Routledge, and coeditor (with Mantak Yuen and Wendi Beamish) of Careers for Students with Special Educational Needs: Perspectives on Development and Transitions from the Asia-Pacific Region (Springer).

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