Dr. Chryse (Sissy) Hatzichristou is Professor of School Psychology, Director of the Graduate Program in School Psychology and Director of the Laboratory of School Psychology, Department of Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. She was Chair of the Department of Psychology (2015-2020).

She carried out her graduate studies at Harvard University, where she received her Master’s Degree and Certificate of Advanced Studies in Human Development and her Doctoral Degree in School Psychology, University of California, Berkeley. She was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Scientific Associate at Max-Planck Institute for Human Development and Education in Berlin. She has worked in mental health centers and schools in the USA and Greece.

Dr. Hatzichristou is Past President of the International School Psychology Association and has served as an elected member of the Committee for Global Psychology, American Psychology Association (APA), member of the Executive Board of Trainers of School Psychologists, USA and member of the Graduate Education Committee of the National Association of School Psychologists, USA. She has received the International School Psychology Distinguished Service Award, International School Psychology Association (2019), the Outstanding International Scholar Award, International School Psychology Association (2010) and the ISPA Presidential Citation Awards (2016 and 2017). She was recently honored with the prestigious Judith Kaufman Award for Outstanding Training Contribution to School Psychology (2026), in recognition of exceptional commitment to training through scholarship, teaching, service, and leadership in the field of School Psychology. She was also honored with the Award for Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to the University and Society by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2025).

She has previously served as an elected member and co-chair of the Committee of International Relations in Psychology of the American Psychological Association (APA), Secretary of the Executive Committee of the International School Psychology Association, chair of the Globalization Working Group of School Psychology Division of APA and member of Crossing Cultures and Continents Task Force of the National Association of School Psychologists, USA. She was Chair of the Organizing Committee of the 28^th International School Psychology Conference (2005, Athens) organized by the Department of Psychology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in collaboration with the International School Psychology Association.

She was a member of the Executive Committee of the Hellenic Psychological Society and co-Coordinator of the Division of School Psychology of the Hellenic Psychological Society. She was Chair of the Organizing Committee of the 1^st Panhellenic School Psychology Conference (Athens, 2015) organized by the Department of Psychology and of the 4th Panhellenic Conference of School Psychology, organized by the Department of Psychology, the Graduate Program in School Psychology, and the Laboratory of School Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in collaboration with the School Psychology Division of the Hellenic Psychological Society (March 19–22, 2026). She also served as Chair of the Organizing Committee of numerous Schools of School Psychology, specialized in-service training workshops and seminars organized by the Laboratory of School Psychology Laboratory and the Graduate Program in School Psychology, Department of Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

Her primary research interests and work include promotion of mental health and resilience in school communities, psychosocial adjustment and support of vulnerable and at-risk groups of students, crisis intervention, school-based consultation, evidence-based interventions in schools and cross-cultural and transnational issues in school psychology training and practice. She has been instrumental in efforts connecting theory, research and school-based practice (prevention and intervention evidence-based programs) for supporting children’s learning, psychosocial adjustment and promotion of resilience in schools, including collaborations among Universities, communities, schools and professional associations at a national and international level.

She has numerous publications in Greek and international scientific journals and books. She is the author of several books including: Hatzichristou, C. (2023). Handbook of School Psychology. Gutenberg, Hatzichristou, C. (Ed) (2011a,b,c, 2026), Social and Emotional Learning in School: Program for the Promotion of Social and Emotional Skills (primary and secondary education). Gutenberg, Hatzichristou, C. (2015). Prevention and promotion of mental health in school and family. Gutenberg, Hatzichristou, C. (2015). Parental separation, divorce and children. Children’s adjustment in binuclear family and school. Pedio, Hatzichristou, C. (2014).Cοunseling and Consultation in the School Community. Tipothito, Hatzichristou, C. (Ed) (2012), Crisis Intervention in the School Community. Gutenberg. Several resources have been further developed by the Laboratory of School Psychology (https://schoolpsychlab.psych.uoa.gr/) for supporting school communities and families during crises. 

She has also participated in numerous international research projects, resulting in multiple conference presentations and publications with colleagues from different countries. She has been co-editor of journal special issues regarding international approaches in school psychology training and practice (special issue on Academic and Professional Preparation of School and Educational Psychologists: International Perspectives with Prof. Tom Oakland as co-editor and special issue on  Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Training, Intervention and Research Worldwide with Prof. Maurice Elias as co-editor), and co-editor of the International Handbook of Consultation in Educational Settings (Chryse Hatzichristou & Sylvia Rosenfield, 2017, Taylor & Francis) and the Handbook of School Psychology in the Global Context: Transnational Approaches to Support Children, Families, and School Communities (Chryse Hatzichristou, Bonnie Nastasi & Shane Jimerson, 2024, Springer).

Office: cell 504
Telephone: +30 210 727 7528
e-mail: hatzichr@psych.uoa.gr

Personal website: http://www.shatzichristou.website