With mental health care in crisis due to accessibility and affordability challenges, Dr. Shelton’s research focuses on developing digital tools that increase the reach of evidence-based treatments. His work includes designing and testing internet-based interventions and smartphone applications to improve treatment engagement and outcomes.

Key Projects:

• Digital ADHD Interventions:
• Development of tailored digital tools for ADHD management in college students and adults.
  
  
• Scalable Digital Assessments:
• Designing assessments that provide accurate, fast, and scalable diagnostic options.
  
  
• Engagement and Adherence in Digital Treatments:
• Exploring how gamification and personalized feedback improve adherence to digital therapies.

Immersive technologies, including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), hold transformative potential for education, workforce training, and mental health care.
Dr. Shelton’s research investigates how XR tools can be used to build innovative solutions across these domains.

• Virtual Classrooms and Training Tools:
• Developing and deploying VR-based learning environments to enhance educational outcomes.
  
  
• XR in Mental Health Therapy:
• Creating immersive XR mental health applications
• Testing VR scenarios for exposure therapy and social skills training.
  
  
• Industry-Specific XR Solutions:
• Working with organizations to create tailored XR applications for workforce training, advocacy, and productivity.
• Discover more about the industry-specific work Dr. Shelton is engaged in alongside Jasper Sachsenmeier at Augmented XR Consulting.
  

 As both the founder and Director of the Virtual/Augmented Reality Lab at Penn State Behrend, Dr. Shelton leads interdisciplinary research projects focused on applying XR technologies in real-world settings. The VAR Lab serves as a training ground for students interested in technology-driven solutions. Over the course of it’s existence, Dr. Shelton has built the VAR Lab into: a student-focused, nationally ranked lab; an interdisciplinary powerhouse across Penn State and beyond; and a place of equitable access for all students by moving toward a an employment model for student researchers (VAR Lab is now one of the largest employers of students at Penn State).

Opportunities for Students:
Dr. Shelton is always looking for detail-oriented, highly motivated students to join the VAR Lab as research assistants. Whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, you’ll gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge projects. 

• Discover more about the VAR Lab and our cutting-edge projects by visiting our website ( var.psu.edu).
• Explore opportunities to get involved as a student, faculty member, or community partner on our Getting Involved page.
• Support our mission by contributing equipment, expertise, or tax-deductible monetary donations. For inquiries, email us at varlab@psu.edu or make a donation donation here.

Dr. Shelton’s work has been published in leading journals and presented at national conferences. He actively collaborates with other researchers and organizations to push the boundaries of what’s possible in mental health and technology.

You can view his curriculum vitae (CV) here.

Recent Publications:
*Indicates co-authors who were undergraduate or graduate students under Dr. Shelton’s supervision.

Hartung, C., Lefler, E., Abu-Ramadan, T. M., Stevens, A. E., Serrano, J., Miller, E. A., & Shelton, C. (In Press). A Call to Analyze Sex, Gender, and Sexual Orientation in Psychopathology Research: An Illustration with ADHD and Internalizing Symptoms in Emerging Adults. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. Shelton, Chere. R. (2024). Online search strategies and results from a crowdsourced survey on asymptomatic bacteriuria. Urogynecology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/SPV.0000000000001500

Lefler, E. K., Tabler, J., Abu-Ramadan, T., Stevens, A. E., Serrano, J. W., Shelton, C. R., & Hartung, C. M. (2023). Sex, gender, and sexual orientation in psychological research: Exploring data trends & researcher opinions. Psychological Reports. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231199959

Sibley, M. H., Shelton, C. R., Garcia, I., Monroy, J., Hill, D. M., Johansson, M., Link, K., Greenwood, L., Antunez, G. T., & Francisco, J. C. R. (2023) Are there long-term effects of behavior therapy for adolescent ADHD?: A qualitative study. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 54, 985–996. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01294-4

LaCount, P. A., Zulauf-McCurdy, C. A., Shelton, C. R., Morrow, A. S., Zhao, X., Sibley, M. H., & Arnold, L. E. (2023). Systematic review & meta-analysis: Safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative treatments for pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000001184

Shelton, C. R. & Hartung, C. M. (2022). Feasibility and acceptability of an internet-based intervention for emerging and young adults with ADHD. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 7, 428-438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-022-00256-4

Hartung, C. M., Shelton, C. R., & Canu, W. H. (2022). Proposed terminology to distinguish Adult-Onset from Late-Identified ADHD: A preliminary effort in a large survey of adults aged 18 to 80. The ADHD Report, 30, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1521/adhd.2022.30.6.1

*Lee, C. A., *Goh, P. K., Shelton, C. R., & Hartung, C. M. (2022). Networks of ADHD and SCT symptoms in emerging adulthood. Journal of Attention Disorders, 26, 991-1000. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547211045743

*Kotsiou, A., Juriasingani, E., Maromonte, M., Marsh, J., Shelton, C. R., Zhao, R., & Elliott, L. J. (2021). Interdisciplinary approach to a coping skills app: A case study. The Journal of Interactive Technology & Pedagogy. https://jitp.commons.gc.cuny.edu/interdisciplinary-approach-to-a-coping-skills-app-a-case-study/

Shelton, C. R., *Kotsiou, A., & Hetzel-Riggin, M. D. (2021). Digital Mental Health Interventions: Impact and Considerations. In Human Factors Issues and the Impact of Technology on Society (pp. 180-210). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-6453-0.ch008

Shelton, C. R., Addison, W., & Hartung, C. M. (2019). ADHD and SCT symptomatology in relation to college students’ use of self-regulated learning strategies. Journal of Attention Disorders, 23, 1719-1728. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054717691134

Hartung C. M., Lefler, E. K., Canu, W. H., Stevens, A. E., Jaconis, M., LaCount, P. A., Shelton, C. R., Leopold D., & Willcutt, E. G. (2019). DSM-5 and other symptom thresholds for ADHD: Which is the best predictor of impairment in college students? Journal of Attention Disorders, 23, 1637-1646. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054716629216

Zhao, R., Shelton, C. R., Hetzel-Riggin, M. D., LaRiccia, J., Louchart, G., Meanor, A., & Risser, H. J. (2019) Knowledge Assessment: Game for Assessment of Symptoms of Child Physical Abuse. Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games, San Luis Obispo, California, USA. https://doi.org/10.1145/3337722.3337747

Stevens, A. E., Hartung, C. M., Shelton, C. R. & LaCount, P. A. (2019). The effects of a brief organization, time management, and planning intervention for at-risk college freshman. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 4, 201-218. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2018.1551093

LaCount, P. A., Hartung, C. M., Shelton, C. R., & Stevens, A. E. (2018). Efficacy of an organizational skills intervention for college students with ADHD symptomatology and academic difficulties. Journal of Attention Disorders, 22, 356–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054715594423

LaCount, P. A., Hartung, C. M., Shelton, C. R., Clapp, J. D. & Clapp, T. K. W. (2015). Preliminary evaluation of a combined group and individual treatment for college students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 22, 152-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2014.07.004

Crouch, J. L., Shelton, C. R., Bardeen, J. R., Hiraoka, R., Milner, J. S., & Skowronski, J. J. (2012). Does attentional control mediate the association between adverse early experiences and child physical abuse risk?. Journal of Family Violence, 27, 97-103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-011-9406-0

Crouch, J. L., Irwin, L. M., Wells, B. M., Shelton, C. R., Skowronski, J. J., & Milner, J. S. (2012). The Word Game: An innovative strategy for assessing implicit processes in parents at risk for child physical abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 36, 498-509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2012.04.004

Whether researchers, institutions, or organizations seek to advance mental health initiatives or explore immersive technologies, Dr. Shelton welcomes collaboration opportunities. Partner with him to leverage cross-disciplinary expertise, drive innovation, and deliver impactful solutions.