Faculty Directory
Belle Liang
Ascione Faculty Formation Fellow
Professor
Licensed Psychologist
Belle Liang
Ph.D.
Contact
Campion 314
Telephone: 617-552-4079
Email: liangbe@bc.edu
ORCID 0000-0002-0005-4856
Education
- Ph.D., Michigan State University
- M.A., Michigan State University
- B.S., Indiana University
Courses
Applied Psychology Practicum: Pathways to Purposeful Work and Life
Research Interests
Mentoring and Cultivating Purpose in Adolescence and Young Adulthood; Creating schools and workplaces that foster purpose and belonging.
Expertise
- Career and Work
- Formative and Whole Person Education
- Health and Well Being
Department
Profile
Dr. Belle Liang is a Professor of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on cultivating purpose and belonging as systemic drivers of equity and well-being in schools and workplaces. She serves as the inaugural Ascione Fellow and Faculty Fellow in University Mission and Ministry, where she connects her scholarship to campus-wide initiatives supporting holistic and justice-oriented development in educational and professional settings.
For over two decades at Boston College, Dr. Liang has led research-practice partnerships funded by the National Science Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and others. Her work includes the design of evidence-based curricula, tools, and technologies that foster inclusive, purpose-driven cultures in schools and organizations. She has authored over 100 scholarly publications and is co-author of How to Navigate Life: The New Science of Finding Your Way in School, Career, & Beyond, a widely adopted book that translates purpose research into accessible tools for students, educators, and communities.
Her contributions to psychology, teaching, and mentoring have earned her numerous honors, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana University–Bloomington. She is also a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 17). Across all her roles, Dr. Liang bridges research and practice to help diverse communities thrive—by transforming not only how individuals develop, but how systems support their sense of purpose and belonging.
GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT
- COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning), Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
- Youth Mentoring and Purpose Project, Potter's House Guatemala City
- Postcards for Peace Project with WorldVision in Northern Uganda
Select Publications
Books
- Liang, B. & Klein, T. (Aug, 2022). How to Navigate Life: The New Science of Finding Your Way in School, Career, & Beyond. NY, NY: St. Martin’s Press.
Journal Articles
- Liang, B., & Klein, T. (in press). Response to extended review of How to Navigate Life: The New Science of Finding Your Way in School, Career, and Beyond [Response to book review]. Journal of Moral Education.
- Do, M. H., Cui, Y., Hill, N. E., Liang, B., & Perella, J. (conditionally accepted). Adolescent Self-Efficacy and Orientation about the Future: Longitudinal Associations with Family/School Support and Sense of Purpose. Journal of Adolescent Research.
- Lincoln, B.*, Patel, K. N.*, Binder, M.*, Lund, T. J., & Liang, B. (2024). Transforming service into civic purpose: A qualitative study of adolescent civic engagement and purpose development. Adolescents, 4(1), 90–106. https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents4010007
- Lund, T. J., Fongemy, G.*, Lincoln, B.*, Snow, H., Hakovirta, A. L. S.*, & Liang, B. (2024). Predictors of purpose among young adults in college: An exploratory analysis of the importance of relational supports and experiential learning. Youth, 4(4), 1494-1504.
- Kang, A. S.*, Hoskova, B.*, Liu, C. Y.*, Viddayakorn, A.*, Binder, M.*, Liang, B., & Lai, B. (2023). Students of Color and COVID-19: Experiences, Coping Strategies, and Supports. Journal of Educational Research & Practice. 13(1), 345-364. https://doi.org/10.5590/JERAP.2023.13.1.23
- Patel, K. N.*, Lincoln, B.*, Gomez, L. A. M.*, Lopez, A. C.*, Ting, T.*, Lund, T. J., & Liang, B. (2023). MentorOn: A peer mentoring program developed for COVID-19 times. Journal of community psychology, 51(8), 3152–3170. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23030
- Lincoln, B.*, White, A. E., Lund, T. J., Liang, B., Blustein, D. L., & Barnett, G. M. (2023). Moving From Passion to Purpose: A STEM-Focused After-school Program’s Influence on Purpose Outcomes. Journal of Adolescent Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584231182137
- Konowitz, L.*, Lund, T., Chia, S. W. C.*, Reed, M.*, Wood, W.*, Liang, B., Blustein, D., & Barnett, M. (2023). The Powerful Role of Mothers in Adolescent Purpose Development. Journal of Psychological Research, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v5i1.5236
- Zhou, M.*, Rauen, J.*, Sepulveda, J.*, Lund, T., Liang, B., Mousseau, A.D. (2022). Purpose in the face of adversity: The roles of meaning-making and adversity among purposeful college students. Journal of Character Education. 19(2), 1-22.
Select Grants
External Grants
- Walton Family Foundation
- Cultivating Purpose & Belonging in K-12 Schools. $2,225,000. Principal Investigators: Belle Liang & Kendall Bronk. (2024–2027).
- Cultivating Purpose & Belonging. $110,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang & Kendall Bronk. (2023–2024).
- Davis Education Foundation
- True North at Messina Purpose Initiative. $160,000. Principal Investigator: Erick Berrelleza. Role: Contributor (Curriculum and grant development led by Belle Liang). (2024–2026).
- RedGen
- Purpose & Belonging Curriculum in K-12 RedGen Schools. $64,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2023–2025).
- Melkus Foundation
- True North 2.0. $64,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2022–2024).
- True North. $200,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2019–2021).
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Change Makers: Urban Youth Food Justice Ambassadors. $1,998,290. Co-Principal Investigators: Mike Barnett, Belle Liang, & David Blustein. (2017–2023).
- ITEST Strategies: Seeding the Future of STEM Researchers through Emerging Agricultural Technologies. $1,197,756. Principal Investigator: Mike Barnett; Co-Principal Investigators: Belle Liang & David Blustein. (2018–2023).
- Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL): Broadening Participation by Middle-School Students in STEM via Integrating Hands-on Experiences in Science Learning. $299,780. Co-Investigators: Meghan E. Hill, Belle Liang, Helen Zhang, & Mike Barnett. (2018–2020).
- Center for Research on Girls Grant (Laurel School)
- 21st Century Athenas: Aligning Achievement and Well-being. $250,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2010–2013).
- CityDance, Boston Ballet
- The Impact of CityDance Intervention on Relational Health and Body Image in Inner-City Girls and Boys. $2,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2004–2005).
- Children's Trust Fund, Lansing, Michigan
- Young Parents Educational Development: Mentors of Mothers Project, Lansing School District. $35,000 (plus $5,000 research stipend). (1991–1994)
Internal Grants
- Boston College
- Working Wise & Living Whys: Purpose from School to the Workplace. $50,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang; Co-Investigator: Andrew Hession-Kunz. (2021–2022).
- Formative Education: The Role of Purpose and Critical Consciousness in College Students. $15,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2019–2020).
- MAPP Purpose Profiles. $40,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2017–2019).
- Transforming Stress and Storm to Power and Purpose. $30,000/year. Co-Investigators: Maureen Kenny, Belle Liang, & David Blustein. (2013–2016).
- Youth Mentoring and College-Bound Students. $7,500. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2013–2014).
- GenerationPulse: Global Classroom. $42,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2008–2011).
- Web Teens of New Orleans: Restoring the Community of Youth. $12,000. Principal Investigator: Belle Liang. (2006–2007).
- Other Internal Grants
- Research Expense Grant, Boston College. $2,000. (2017–2018).
- MediaKron, ATAB Special Project: Global Classroom. $2,500. (2016–2017).
- The Ethical Dilemmas in Youth Mentoring Study. $2,000. (2005).
- The Relational Health Study. $1,500. (2002).
- Teaching, Advising, and Mentoring (TAM) Grant
- Building Community for Teens of New Orleans. $1,000. (2006–2007).
- Robert S. and Grace W. Stone Primary Prevention Initiatives Grant
- The Relational Health Indices: A Study of Girls’ and Boys’ Relationships. $80,000. (2003–2005).
Select Awards
- Inaugural Recipient of the Illuminations Award, recognizes Boston College faculty/staff who have provided the spark for students to discern their career interests and pursue journeys that serve the world.
- Distinguished Alumni Award (Inaugural Distinguished Asian Alumni Award), Indiana University Alumni Association.
- Boston College Corcoran Center Community Engagement Award for BC MentorOn -St. Columbkille School Collaboration.
- Inaugural Many Faces of Counseling Psychology Award, International Counseling Psychology, for innovations in strength-based, developmental, and preventive approaches to psychological issues.
- Andrew Carnegie Fellows Boston College’s 2020 Senior Fellow Nominee.
- Lawrence O’Toole Award, Innovative Practices in Education Award.
- American Psychological Association Fellow, Division 17, for unusual and outstanding contributions to research and the field of Counseling Psychology.
- Finalist, SPSSI Outstanding Teaching & Mentoring Award.
- Commitment to Change Award, Boston College, to my research team for outstanding contributions in and demonstrated commitment to social change.
- Summa Cum Laude Award, Teaching with New Media Award at Boston College for exemplary uses of technology in teaching.
- Magnum Cum Laude Award, Teaching with New Media Award at Boston College for exemplary uses of technology in teaching.
- Finalist, The Counseling Psychologist Outstanding Contribution Award for major contribution, “Training Counseling Psychologists as Social Justice Agents: Feminist and Multicultural Principles in Action.”
- American Psychological Association Convention, Division 27 Best Paper Award for “Culture, control, and coping: A comprehensive model of social