Portrait image of Phillip Belfiore
Phillip Belfiore

Department Chair, Education; Program Director; Graduate Special Education, Professor

Contact Information

OFFICE: Hirt 300B
PHONE: 814-824-2267

Dr. Phillip Belfiore, Ph.D., is the department chair of the graduate program in special education and applied disability studies. Dr. Belfiore began teaching at Mercyhurst University in 1995, and is now a tenured full professor. Prior to Mercyhurst University, Dr. Belfiore was an associate professor in the Department of Educational Studies at Purdue University (1991-1995). Dr. Belfiore received his Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education at Duquesne University, a Master of Education degree in Special Education from Kent State University, and his Doctorate degree in Special Education from Lehigh University.

Dr. Belfiore has authored over 70 scholarly research articles, published in peer-reviewed journals in the fields of applied behavior analysis, urban education, and special education. He has also authored numerous book chapters, and presents regularly at national and international conferences. Dr. Belfiore has won numerous awards for teaching and scholarship, including the Teaching Excellence Award from Mercyhurst University, the Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award from Purdue University, and the Outstanding Contributions to the Discipline from Lehigh University. Dr. Belfiore remains committed to college teaching and student-faculty research. Additionally Dr. Belfiore is active in the local and regional community by consulting in the fields of special education, Catholic education, urban education, and post-secondary education for students with intellectual disabilities.

About Dr. Phillip Belfiore

    Graduate Courses:

    • EDUC 502: Educational Research: Single Case Research (3 credits)
    • EDUC 536: Professional, Legal, and Ethical Practices (3 credits)
    • EDUC 538: Special Topics: Urban Education (3 credits)        
    • EDUC 676: Thesis: Special Education (3 credits)

    Undergraduate Courses:

    • EDUC 207: Behavior Theories and Practice (3 credits)
    • EDUC 309: Effective Instructional Practices: High Incidence Disabilities (3 credits)
    • Huba, K., & Belfiore, P.J. (2024). Using flashcards, error correction and descriptive feedback to teach kitchen equipment to post-secondary students with intellectual disabilities. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17, 544-552. doi.org/10.1007/s40617-023-00853-6
    • Skinner, C.H., Cates, G.L., Poncy, B., Duhon, G.J., Solomon, B.G., Belfiore, P.J. (2023). Improving learning science: Evaluating and comparing academic interventions using measures of learning speed. Psychology in the Schools, 60, 3329-3350. doi.org/10.1002/pits.22931
    • Belfiore, P.J., Link, H., Neal, M., Bruno, M., Barricklow, R., & Scott, A. (2023). Reframing the pedagogy: The role of evidence-based practices in urban classrooms. In R.V. Nata (Ed.) Progress In Education, Vol 77. (pp. 1-40). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Publishers.
    • Belfiore, P.J., (2022). Academic Strategies for At-Risk Students in Urban School. In C. Lemon, S. Powell, K. Lane, & T. Aceves (Eds.) Handbook of Special Education Research, Vol 2: Research-Based Practices and Intervention Innovations. (pp. 163-177). NY: Routledge.
    • Fowler, K., Skinner, C.H., Cates, G.L., Poncy, B., Duhon, G.J., & Belfiore, P.J. (2022). Why and how teachers should prevent and remedy academic deficits by enhancing learning speed. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 66, 22-32. DOI: 10.1080/1045988X.2021.1922333
    • Belfiore, E.P., & Belfiore, P.J. (2021). Using errorless learning and discrimination training to teach early literacy skills in a pre-school setting. Children and Teenagers, 4, 1-9.
    • Glascott, T, & Belfiore, P.J. (2019). Effects of token reinforcement, in the form of a lottery, on noncompliance in a third grade urban classroom. Psychology and Behavioral Science International Journal 13(5) 1-7.
    • Belfiore, P.J. (2017). The critical role of Catholic Higher Education sustaining Catholic elementary schools. The Journal of Catholic Higher Education, 36, 239-249.
    • Mace, F.C., & Belfiore, P.J. (1990). Behavioral momentum in the treatment of escape-motivated stereotypy. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 507-514.
    • Mace, F.C., Hock, M.L., Lalli, J.S., West, B.J., Belfiore, P.J., Pinter, E. & Brown, D.K. (1988). Behavioral momentum in the treatment of noncompliance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 21, 123-141.