October 2024
Special Education Professor Casey Clay Awarded $2M Grant to Create Virtual Reality Teacher Training on Behavior Intervention
Researcher Casey Clay, assistant professor in Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling at USU, is part of a collaborative project that was recently awarded a $2M grant from the Institute of Education Sciences, which is housed within the US Department of Education. Using virtual reality simulations, the four-year project aims to provide training for future teachers so they can effectively assess and provide intervention for students who exhibit challenging behavior—such as aggression, anxiety, and obstinance—in the classroom. Clay will serve as co-principal investigator for the multi-site project, which includes researchers at Vanderbilt University, the Universityof Virginia, and Mississippi State University.
Research & News
$2.5M NIH Grant Awarded to USU Professor to Improve Comprehension Skills for Children with Developmental Language Disorder
The National Science Foundation has awarded a $1.25M grant to Professors David Feldon and Shawn Whiteman. The grant is a three-year project that introduces an innovative postdoctoral training program focused on access and accessibility in STEM, with the specified aim to transition three postdocs directly into tenure-line positions within the college.
Psychology Professors Named Editors-in-Chief of Two Peer-Reviewed Journals
Two faculty members, mentors, and researchers in the Psychology Department at USU have been named editors-in-chief of two peer-reviewed scholarly journals for the next five years. Melanie Domenech Rodríguez is the new editor of Family Process and Tyler Renshaw is the editor-elect of School Psychology Review.
Teacher Education Professor Jake Downs Recipient of the National 2024 Reading Hall of Fame Emerging Scholars Fellowship
Jake Downs, assistant professor in USU’s School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL), was recently awarded the 2024 Reading Hall of Fame Emerging Scholars Fellowship. TEAL Department Head Steven Camicia says, “This fellowship indicates the high regard leaders in his field have for the potential impact of his work. Dr. Downs is very deserving of this honor.”
National Center on Newborn Hearing Joins the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice
The National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM), a research center that has pioneered a universal hearing screening program for infants, recently joined the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice in CEHS. The move is another step forward on NCHAM’s journey to identify hearing loss in infants and young children nationwide.