Research Interests

 Dr. Silton's primary research interests include:

  1. Determining how best to enhance typical children’s sensitivity to children on the autism spectrum.

  2. How to teach social emotional skills to children on the spectrum.

  3. Looking at the interface between religion and health.

  4. Dating, marital relationships and parenting. Nava has served as a guest speaker, programmer and emcee for more than a dozen singles events in the tri-state area.

Platform Presentations

  • Silton, N.R., & Flannelly, K.J. (2010). The relationship between religious attendance and stigma towards individuals with mental illness. Oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Baltimore, MD, October 29-31.

  • Flannelly, K.J., Silton, N.R., Galek, K., & Flannelly, L.T. (2010). The effect of religion on health and well-being. Oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Baltimore, MD, October 29-31.

  • Silton, N.R., Galek, K., Flannelly, K.J., Flannelly, L.T., & Lutjen, L.J. (2010). Forgiveness, hostility and subjective health. Oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Baltimore, MD, October 29-31.

  • Flannelly, K.J., Silton, N.R., Galek, K., Kytle, J. & Carlson, M. A National Study of Hospital and State Factors Associated with End-of-Life Outcomes. Twenty-first Annual Symposium on Health Care Services in New York: Research and Practice, New York, NY, November, 2010.

  • Silton, N.R., Flannelly, K.J., Lutjen, L., Flannelly, L., & Galek, K. (2010). Age, forgiveness, hostility and subjective health. Oral presentation at the 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the GSA, New Orleans, LA, November 19-23.

  • Silton, N.R. Flannelly, K.J., Ellison, C.G., Jacobs, M., Marcum, J.P., & Silton, F. (2011). The association between religious beliefs and practices and end-of-life fears.Poster presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association, Cambridge, M.A., March 10-13

  • Silton, N.R., Flannelly, K.J., Ellison, C.G., Galek, K., & Jankowski, K.R.B. (2011).The wrath of God and mental health. Poster presentation at the 23rd Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Washington, D.C., May 26-29.

  • Flannelly, K.J., Galek, K., Jankowski, K.R.B., Ellison, C.G., & Silton, N.R. (2011). Angels and demons and psychiatric symptoms. Poster presentation at the 23rd Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science. Washington, D.C., May 26-29.

  • Galek, K., Flannelly, K.J., Ellison, C.G., Silton, N.R., & Jankowski, K.R.B. (2011). Religion, social distrust, and mental health. Poster presentation at the 23rd Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science. Washington, D.C., May 26-29.

  • Silton, N., Campbell, J. M., & Roulton, K. (May 2011). A descriptive analysis of elementary school students’ conceptions of autism. For presentation at the 2011 Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), San Diego, CA.

  • Silton, N.R., Robins, K., Tulipano, J., Franco, M., Garcia, J., Sintim, A. & Robert, T. (May 2011). Put Those Fries Down! The Effects of Advertising on Positive Food Choices. For presentation at the Marymount Manhattan Research Conference, Manhattan, NY.

  • Cerri, G., & Silton, N.R. (May 2011). How children develop stereotypes of individuals with disabilities. For presentation at the Marymount Manhattan Research Conference, Manhattan, NY.

  • Flanders, P. & Silton, N.R. (May 2011). The Effects of Music as an Intervention on the Behavioral Functioning of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. For presentation at the Marymount Manhattan Research Conference, Manhattan, NY.

  • Zurlini, O., & Silton, N.R. (May 2011). Come, Let’s Play! Fostering Sensitivity and Social Interactions of Typical Children towards Children on the Autism Spectrum. For presentation at the Marymount Manhattan Research Conference, Manhattan, NY

  • Silton, N.R. (May 2011). On the front lines: Qualitative interviews with mothers of children with autism. For presentation at the Museum of Motherhood Conference. New York, N.Y., May 23-25.

  • Flannelly, K.J., Emanuel, L.L., Handzo, G.F., Galek, K., Silton, N.R., Carlson, M. (2012). Association between hospital chaplaincy services and End-of-Life Outcomes. Mayo Conference, September 19.

  • Flannelly, K.J., Emanuel, L.L., Handzo, G.F., Galek, K., Silton, N.R., Carlson, M. (2012). Relationship of Chaplaincy Services with Hospital Deaths and Hospice Enrollment. 2012 Association of Professional Chaplains Annual Conference, June 21.

  • Silton, N.R. & Paljevic, S. (May 2012). The impact of disability simulation on behavioral intentions and cognitive attitudes. For presentation at the 2012 APS Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, May 24 – 27.

  • Silton, N.R., Flannelly, K.J., Galek, K. & Jankowski, K.B. (May 2012). Beliefs about God and Mental Health among American Adults. For presentation at the 2012 APS Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, May 24 – 27.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., & Ruchlin, R. (March 2013). A Four-Part Curricular Intervention to Enhance the Sensitivity of Typical Children to Children with Disabilities. For presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, N.Y. March 4-5

  • Silton, N.R., Ruchlin, R., & Arucevic, S. (March 2013). Realabilities: Fostering sensitivity of typical children towards children with special needs. For presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, N.Y. March 4-5.

  • Silton, N.R., Ruchlin, R., & Arucevic, S. (April 2013). Realabilities: Promoting sensitivity of typical children towards children with special needs. For presentation at Hunter College, New York, N.Y. April 21.

  • Silton, N.R., Ruchlin, R., & Arucevic, S. (April 2013). Realabilities in Baltimore: Enhancing sensitivity of typical children towards children with special needs. For presentation at Pace University, New York, N.Y. May 4.

  • Silton, N.R., Ruchlin, R., & Arucevic, S. (May 2013). Testing Three Episodes of Realabilities in two schools to enhance sensitivity to children with disabilities. For presentation at the Association for Psychological Science, Washington, May 23-26.

  • Silton, N.R., Ruchlin, R., & Arucevic, S. (August 2013). Testing Three Episodes of Realabilities in Three Schools. For presentation at the American Psychological Association (APA), Oahu, Hawaii, July 31-August 4.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. (October 2013). Realabilities: Creating and Assessing a New Children's Television Show. For presentation at the Greater New York Behavioral Conference, New York, NY, October 27.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. & Zackchewski, Y. (March 2014). For presentation at Honors Day at Marymount Manhattan College, New York, March 13.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. & Zackchewski, Y. (March 2014). Realabilities Pilot Study: Testing the Efficacy of Graphic Novels to Prevent Bullying and Enhance Typical Children’s Sensitivity to Children with Disabilities. For presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, M.A., March 13-15.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. & Zackchewski, Y. (March 2014). Realabilities: A Review of the Research. Hunter College Psychology Conference, New York, N.Y., March 30.

  • Silton, N.R. (March 2014). A Discussion on Autism. Hunter College Psychology Conference, New York, N.Y., March 30.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. & Zackchewski, Y. (April 2014). Realabilities: A TV Show and Comic Book Series to Enhance Empathy. For presentation at the Westchester Undergraduate Research Conference, Westchester, N.Y., April 4.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. & Zackchewski, Y. (April 2014). Realabilities: Testing the Efficacy of a Video and Comic-Based Research Intervention to Teach About Disabilities and to Prevent Bullying. For presentation at the Bedford Hills Research Conference, Westchester County, NY, April 25.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. & Zackchewski, Y. (May 2014). Realabilities: A TV Show and Comic Book Series to Foster Empathy and Prevent Bullying Among School Children, Annual Pace Psychology Conference, New York, NY, May 3.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. & Zackchewski, Y. (May 2014). For presentation at the Annual Science Research Conference at Marymount Manhattan College, New York, NY, May 5.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. & Zackchewski, Y. (May 2014). Realabilities: Testing the Efficacy of Graphic Novels and an Animated Episode to Prevent Bullying and to Enhance Typical Children's Sensitivity to Children with Disabilities. For presentation at the 26th APS Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA, May 22-25.

  • Silton, N.R., Arucevic, S., Ruchlin, R., Ferris, A. & Zackchewski, Y. (August 2014). Using Television and Book Media to Prevent Bullying and to Foster Sensitivity Toward Children With Disabilities. For presentation at the American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C., August 7-10.

  • Silton, N.R., Ferris, A., Keyser, K., Wagner, C., Corning, M., Rojas, M., & Schlough (2014). Considering Grade in the Impact of Realabilities Television Show and Comic Book Series on Children’s Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Children with Disabilities, Greater New York Behavioral Conference (GNYBC), November 9.

  • Silton, N.R., Ferris, A., Keyser, K., Wagner, C., Corning, M., Rojas, M., & Schlough (2015). Considering Gender in the Impact of Realabilities Television Show and Comic Book Series on Children’s Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Children with Disabilities, Eastern Psychological Association (EPA), Philadephia, PA, March 6-8.

  • Silton, N.R., Ferris, A., Keyser, K., Wagner, C., Corning, M., Rojas, M., & Schlough (2015). Realabilities: The Impact of a TV Show and Comic Book Series on Children’s Perceptions of Children with Disabilities, Hunter College Psychology Conference, April 26th.

  • Silton, N.R., Ferris, A., Keyser, K., Wagner, C., Corning, M., Rojas, M., & Schlough (2015). Realabilities: Fostering Positive Perceptions towards Disabilities through a TV Show and Comic Book Series, Pace Psychology Conference, May 9th.

  • Silton, N.R. A., Keyser, K., Wagner, C., Corning, M., Rojas, M., & Schlough & Hotez, E. (2015). Realabilities: The Impact of a TV Show and Comic Book Series on Children’s Perceptions of Children with Disabilities, A Consideration of Gender, Association for Psychological Science (APS), New York, NY, May 21-24.

  • Silton, N.R. Ferris, A., Wagner, C., Keyser, A.K., Corning, M., Rojas, M., Rouse, K., Wilson, A., Altchiler, J., & Toland, (2016). Assessing the Efficacy of the Realabilities Comic Book Series to Enhance Typical Students Behavioral Intentions and Cognitive Attitudes towards Children with Disabilities for presentation at the 16th Annual Division of the Sciences Research Conference, New York, NY, May 11, 2016.

  • Silton, N.R., Ferris, A., Wagner, C., Keyser, A.K., Corning, M., Rojas, M., Rouse, K., Wilson, A., Altchiler, J., & Toland, A. (2016). Evaluating the Impact of Five Realabilities Interventions in Enhancing the Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Typical Children toward Children with Disabilities for presentation at the Honors Day Colloquium, New York, NY, March 15, 2016.

  • Silton, N.R., Ferris, A., Corning, M., Keyser, A.K.,Wagner, C., & Rojas, M. (2016).Recognizing RealAbilities: Utilizing Educational Data to Determine How Best to Enhance Typical Students’ Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Peers with Disabilities. For presentation at the Hunter College, New York, NY, April 17, 2016.

  • Silton, N.R., Corning, M., Keyser, A.K., Ferris, A., Wagner, C., & Rojas, M. (2016).Appreciating RealAbilities: Comic Books and Cognitive Attitudes. For presentation at the Bedford Hills Research Conference, New York, NY, April 29, 2016.

  • Silton, N.R., Corning, M., Ferris, A., Wagner, C., Keyser, A.K., Wilson, A., Rouse, K. (2016). Assessing the Efficacy of the Realabilities Comic Book Series to Enhance Typical Students ‘ Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Hypothetical Peers with Disabilities for symposium at the 28th APS Annual Convention, Chicago,IL, May 26-29, 2016.

  • Corning, M., Silton, N.R., Keyser, A.K., Ferris, A.,Wagner, C., & Rojas, M. (2016).Appreciating RealAbilities: Evaluating the Efficacy of a Comic Book Series in Improving Typical Students’ Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Hypothetical Peers with Disabilities. For presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA), NewYork, NY, March 3-5, 2016.

  • Silton, N.R., Ferris, A., Corning, M., Keyser, A.K., Wagner, C., & Rojas, M. (2016).Recognizing RealAbilities: Assessing the Efficacy of a Comic Book Series in Enhancing Typical Students’ Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Hypothetical Peers with Disabilities. For presentation at the American Psychological Association (APA), Conference, Denver, CO, August 4-7, 2016.

  • Silton, N.R.,Villetto, D., Norley, K., Klifi-Amir, S., Riley, P. Untalan, A., Ferris , C., & Chera, D. (March 2017). It’s Nice to Be Nice: The Impact of the Realabilities Puppet Show Musical on Children’s Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation Eastern Psychological Association (EPA), Boston, MA, March 16- 18.

  • Silton, N.R.,Villetto, D., Norley, K., Klifi-Amir, S., Riley, P. Untalan, A., Barnwell, C., & Chera, D. (August 2017). It’s Show Time: The Impact of the Realabilities Puppet Show Musical on Children’s Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation at American Psychological Association (APA), Washington, D.C., August 3.

  • Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (November 2017). “It’s Nice to Be Nice”: Assessing the Efficacy of The Addy & Uno Musical and the Realabilities Educational Comic Book Curriculum. Oral PowerPoint presentation at The Greater New York Conference on Behavioral Research, Fordham University, Manhattan, NY, November 19.

  • Silton, N.R., Riley, P., & Frossard, R. (March 2018). Evaluating the Efficacy of Addy & Uno, The First Family Musical About Disability, Friendship and Kindness: Enhancing Positive Attitudes and Intentions of Typical Children towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation Eastern Psychological Association (EPA), Philadelphia, PA, March 1- 3.

  • Silton, N.R., Riley, P. (March 2018). The Combination of the Addy & Uno Off Broadway Musical and the Realabilities Comic Book Series Curriculum in Enhancing the Knowledge, Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Typical Children Towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation at Marymount Manhattan College Honors Day, Manhattan, New York, March 14.

  • Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (May 2018). The Combination of the Addy & Uno Off Broadway Musical and the Realabilities Comic Book Series Curriculum in Enhancing the Knowledge, Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Typical Children Towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation at Marymount Manhattan College Annual Division of Science Conference, Manhattan, NY, May 9.

  • Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (May 2018). The Combination of the Addy & Uno Off Broadway Musical and the Realabilities Comic Book Series Curriculum in Enhancing the Knowledge, Cognitive Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Typical Children Towards Children with Disabilities. Poster presentation at Association for Psychological Science (APS), San Francisco, CA, May 24-27.

  • Silton, N.R. & Riley, P. (August 2018). Addy and Uno: The Efficacy of an Off-Broadway Musical in Enhancing Sensitivity Toward Peers With Disabilities. Poster presentation at American Psychological Association (APA), San Francisco, CA, August 9-12.

  • Riley, P., Silton, N.R., Anzovino, A., & Ashbrook, L. (November 2018). Kindness Makes a Difference: Assessing the Efficacy of Addy & Uno, A New Off-Broadway Musical and the Realabilities Educational Comic Book Curriculum in Enhancing Children’s Sensitivity and Interest in Their Peers with Disabilities. Oral PowerPoint presentation at The Greater New York Conference on Behavioral Research, Fordham University, Manhattan, NY, November 18.