Professor Shapiro is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. His research interests focus on life transitions: The post midlife transition; the transition to college; couples' transition to family and fatherhood, and he makes frequent media appearances discussing men's issues, pregnancy, intimacy, aging, psychological issues in finance and family business.

Shapiro received an A.B. from Colby College, an M.A. from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo in Ontario. He formerly held a diplomate from the American Board of Medical Psychotherapists, was a certified clinical consultant with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, and a certified group therapist by the National Registry. He has authored and edited several books, and consults regularly with family businesses and company management teams.