Welcome to the College of Education Faculty Research Interests Directory

This page lists faculty researchers and scholars in alphabetical order by last name. You can explore each faculty member's areas of expertise, current projects, and collaborative interests.

To find specific topics or researchers, use the search bar at the top of the page — the directory is fully searchable by keyword, allowing you to locate faculty with interests related to your area of inquiry.

 

 
Yash Bhagwanji
Associate Professor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Research Interests

Early childhood teacher preparation Nature-based early learning

Research Interest Keywords

Early Childhood Education Nature-based Early Learning Family And Community Engagement

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative Methods, Quantitative Methods, Various Research Designs

Software Used in Your Research

Excel, Spss

Hardware Used in Your Research


Rina Bousalis
Associate Professor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Research Interests

Rina Bousalis is an Associate Professor of Social Studies Education in the College of Education at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. Her research interests include immigration, multiculturalism, human rights, United States history, Florida history, and citizenship education.

Research Interest Keywords

Teacher Education, Preservice Teachers, Civics, Citizenship Education, History, Economics, Government, Geography

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative Methods, Survey Methodology, Case Studies, Mixed Methods

Software Used in Your Research

Atlas.ti, Qualtrics

Hardware Used in Your Research


Gwendolyn Carey
Associate Director of ACI and Instructor
Department of Special Education

Research Interests

Research interests revolve around the impact of involvement in higher education not only for individuals with intellectual disability, but also for other members of the campus community.

Research Interest Keywords

Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disability, Autism, Comprehensive Transition Program, Inclusive Postsecondary Education, Self-determination, Quality Of Life, Employment, Mentoring

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative, Case Study, Grounded Theory, Phenomenology, Survey

Software Used in Your Research

Nvivio, Qualtrics, Zoom

Hardware Used in Your Research


Ali Danesh
Professor
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders / Communication Disorders Clinic

Research Interests

Studying auditory and vestibular function in humans, both normal and pathological conditions. Hearing, Tinnitus and Balance Disorders are the major concentartion. Hearing Tinnitus Balance Research Laboratory (HTBRL) https://www.fau.edu/education/academicdepartments/csd/htbrl/

Research Interest Keywords

Audiology, Tinnitus, Misophonia, Hyperacusis, Cognition, Parkinson's Disease, Vestibular Dysfunction, Vertigo, Dizziness, Fall Prevention, Nystagmus

Research Methods Keywords

Survey, Quantitative, Database, Qualitative

Software Used in Your Research

Qualtrics, Spss

Hardware Used in Your Research

Cognivue For Cognition, Spryson For Videonystagmography, Stepsense For Gait And Balance, Audiological Equipment For Hearing Evaluation


Michael DeDonno
Associate Professor
Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology

Research Interests

My area of research has been focused on aspects of vaccine hesitancy, primarily related to COVID-19. Generally, my interests revolve around exploring factors that can influence cognitive performance.

Research Interest Keywords

Statistics, Self-concept, Motivation, Confidence, Cognitive Performance

Research Methods Keywords

Quantitative Methods Including Survey Development

Software Used in Your Research

Spss, Stata, Sas, Qualtrics, Redcap, E-prime

Hardware Used in Your Research

Fmri


Charles Dukes
Interim Dean and Professor
Department of Dean's Office

Research Interests

My research focuses on inclusive education and living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with the most extensive support needs. I investigate nature/needs and strategies to foster social relationships, independent living skills, and the intersection of culture and disability. I am also interested in teacher preparation and improving outcomes for students with the most extensive support needs across settings.

Research Interest Keywords

Inclusive Education Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities (idd) Social Relationships And Independent Living Skills Culture And Disability Teacher Preparation And Student Outcomes

Research Methods Keywords

Single-case Design Secondary Data Analysis Data Mining

Software Used in Your Research

Spss

Hardware Used in Your Research


Kelly Emelianchik-Key

Kelly Emelianchik-Key

Associate Professor
Department of Counselor Education

Research Interests

My research is in mental health counseling and supervision. Areas of focus include eating disorders, body image and sizeism, trauma behaviors, NSSI, dating violence, gender and sexuality, working with marginalized communities, ethics and supervision in counseling.

Research Interest Keywords

Eating Disorders, Mental Health, Trauma, Ipv, Nssi, Gender, Sexuality

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods, And Systematic Reviews

Software Used in Your Research

Spss, Nvivo, Qualtrics

Hardware Used in Your Research


Lisa Finnegan
Associate Professor
Department of Special Education

Research Interests

Research in teacher preparation and retention, implementation of multi-tiered evidence-based instructional and behavioral practices in general education classrooms for students with disabilities, and universal design for learning.

Research Interest Keywords

Teacher Education, Udl, Evidence-based Practices, Multi-tiered System Of Supports, Pbis, Rti,

Research Methods Keywords

Mixed Methods, Survey, Database Research

Software Used in Your Research

Spss, Qualtrics,

Hardware Used in Your Research


Michael Frain
Professor
Department of Counselor Education

Research Interests

Forensic rehabilitation, employment outcome for persons with disabilities, life care palnning for persons with disabilities

Research Interest Keywords

Forensic Rehabilitation Employment Outcome Vocational Analysis Vocational Assessment

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative Daubert

Software Used in Your Research

Hardware Used in Your Research


Katie Friesen

Katie Friesen

Assistant Professor of Higher Education Leadership
Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology

Research Interests

I apply scholarship of leadership and leadership education in the context of higher education. My research interests include student leaderhip development and student success, and the organization and administration of leadership programs (curricular and co-curricular) and the influence on student success.

Research Interest Keywords

Student Success, Student Leadership Development, Leadership Education, Academic Leadership Programs, Interdisciplinarity, Organization And Administration, Higher Education, Leadership

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative Methods, Case Study Methods, Narrative Inquiry, Mixed Methods

Software Used in Your Research

R, Dedoose, Nvivo, Qualtrics

Hardware Used in Your Research


Joseph Gagnon
Chair and Professor
Department of Special Education

Research Interests

I address the needs of youth with emotional disturbance and learning disabilities within regular classroom settings, as well as those who are incarcerated or in day treatment/residential psychiatric schools. Topical areas of his research include: (a) school-level policies (e.g., curriculum, assessment, and accountability); (b) mathematics and reading instruction; and (c) mental health and behavioral supports.

Research Interest Keywords

Special Edcation; Youth Behavior, Youth Mental Health, Mathematics, Reading; School-level Policies, Juvenile Corrections, Day Treatment/residential Psychiatric Schools

Research Methods Keywords

Quantitative Methods: Surveys, Group Design Research Case Studies

Software Used in Your Research

Spss

Hardware Used in Your Research

N/a


Carman Gill

Carman Gill

Professor
Department of Counselor Education

Research Interests

My research interests include overt and covert trauma and PTSD, women's issues, wellness, spirituality and substance use disorders.

Research Interest Keywords

Trauma, Ptsd, Wellness, Religion, Spirituality, Substance Use

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative Methods, Quantitative Methods, Mixed Methods

Software Used in Your Research

Nvivio, Spss, Qualtrics

Hardware Used in Your Research


Alyssa Gonzalez-DeHass

Alyssa Gonzalez-DeHass

Professor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Research Interests

My research interests include parental involvement and parental engagement, student motivation and achievement goals, student self-regulation and self-efficacy, and the case study method of instruction

Research Interest Keywords

Parental Involvement, Parental Engagement, Motivation, Achievement Goals, Self-regulation, Self-efficacy, Case Study Instruction

Research Methods Keywords

Quantitative Methods (and More Recently, Qualitative)

Software Used in Your Research

Hardware Used in Your Research


Kelly Brown Kearney

Kelly Brown Kearney

Assistant Professor
Department of Special Education

Research Interests

I work primarily with adults with autism and/or intellectual disability. My work focuses on increasing employment skills and independent living skills in this population.

Research Interest Keywords

Autism, Intellectual Disability, Applied Behavior Analysis, Employment

Research Methods Keywords

Single Subject Design, Single Case Research

Software Used in Your Research

Excel, Otter

Hardware Used in Your Research

Virtual Reality Headset, Augmented Reality Headset


Brianna Miller
Instructor
Department of Special Education

Research Interests

My research focuses on promoting the health, safety, and well-being of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through evidence-based approaches. I examine topics related to fitness, intimacy, romantic relationships, mental health, and guardianship to enhance quality of life and autonomy. My work aims to develop practical interventions and educational strategies that empower individuals and support informed decision-making across these domains.

Research Interest Keywords

Fitness, Intimacy, Romantic Relationships, Mental Health, Safety, And Guardianship For Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities.

Research Methods Keywords

Single Subject Design And Qualitative Methods

Software Used in Your Research

Nvivio, Spss, And Qualtrics

Hardware Used in Your Research


Meredith Mountford

Meredith Mountford

Associate Professor
Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology

Research Interests

Educational Governance and alternative policy development.

Research Interest Keywords

School Board Members, Superintendents, State Policy Makers, Educational Governance, Educational Policy.

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative And Quantitative

Software Used in Your Research

Nvivo, Spss, Qualtrics, Maxqda,

Hardware Used in Your Research

Na


Ann Musgrove
Associate Professor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Research Interests

Digital literacy including information literacy and AI literacy. Quality online course design and teaching. STEM and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics), Computational Thinking.

Research Interest Keywords

Information Literacy, Stem, Steam, Digital Literacy, Ai, Technology Integration

Research Methods Keywords

Software Used in Your Research

Hardware Used in Your Research


Bryan Nichols
Associate Professor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Research Interests

I study the moral and emotional implications of science and environmental education. I develop pragmatic frameworks and constructs for educators including everyday science, earth smarts, and interspecies empathy. I also study human connection to wildlife and environmental character education.

Research Interest Keywords

Curriculum Development, Teacher Education, Informal Education, Environmental Education, Character Education, Wildlife, Marine And Ocean Education, Interspecies Empathy

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative, Quantitative, Survey, Scale, Phenomenology

Software Used in Your Research

R

Hardware Used in Your Research


Jennifer Rogers

Jennifer Rogers

Assistant Professor
Department of Counselor Education

Research Interests

Systemic implementation of social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health interventions in school settings , School counselor professional growth and development , Sustainable, scalable school mental health systems , Data-based decision-making models

Research Interest Keywords

School Counselor, Systemic Implementation, Social Emotional Learning, Data-based Decision-making Models, Qualitative Research, School Systems, Mental Health

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative Methodology- Qualitative Evaluation, Grounded Theory, Case Studies, Action Research, Thematic Analysis

Software Used in Your Research

Hardware Used in Your Research


Cristobal Salinas

Cristobal Salinas

Professor
Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology

Research Interests

Using qualitative methodologies, my research explores the lived experiences of student populations navigating challenges within higher education. At the individual level, my scholarship focuses on the experiences of diverse people in higher education, with an emphasis on understanding how personal and academic development unfolds in these settings. At the institutional level, I study the community college sector and its communities of people, examining structures, leadership, and practices that influence educational experiences and outcomes. At the cultural level, my scholarship explores normalized social traditions in postsecondary education, including culture, language, hazing, and fraternity and sorority life, that shape the experiences of college students.

Research Interest Keywords

Higher Education, Community Colleges, College Student Development, Latina/o/x College Students, Leadership, Hazing, Fraternity And Sorority,

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative

Software Used in Your Research

Dedoose

Hardware Used in Your Research


Jack Scott
Executive Director
Department of Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD)

Research Interests

Autism autism safety autism suicide prevention Individualized instruction for children in general Water safety autism

Research Interest Keywords

Autims Autism Safety Suicide Prevention Autism Water Safety Autism

Research Methods Keywords

Single Subject Aba Mixed Method Survey

Software Used in Your Research

Survey Monkey

Hardware Used in Your Research

None


Gregory Taylor

Gregory Taylor

Instructor
Department of Special Education

Research Interests

BCBA Supervision, Online teaching and learning, teacher education, assistive technology for behavioral regulation

Research Interest Keywords

Bcba Supervision, Online Teaching And Learning, Teacher Education, Assistive Technology For Behavioral Regulation

Research Methods Keywords

Single Case Research Design

Software Used in Your Research

Hardware Used in Your Research


Anne van Zelst
Assistant Professor
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders / Communication Disorders Clinic

Research Interests

I am interested in speech-motor learning and the impact of post-practice time spent in rest or sleep. These offline periods following active learning and may result in changes to speech perception and production in the absence of further practice. Additionally, I am also exploring the effect of time-of-day on procedural and declarative learning and its relationship to chronotype synchrony and asynchrony.

Research Interest Keywords

Speech-motor Learning, Memory Consolidation, Sleep, Rest, Speech Sound Disorders, Motor Speech Disorders, Persistent Speech Sound Disorders In Adolescents And Young Adults

Research Methods Keywords

Quantitative

Software Used in Your Research

Praat, Matlab, E-prime, Prolific, Gorilla Experiment Builder, Redcap, Eeg Toolbox (matlab), Brainvision, Fsl

Hardware Used in Your Research

Eeg/erp, Fmri, Actigraphs


Michelle Vaughan-McGovern

Michelle Vaughan-McGovern

Interim Co-Chair and Professor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Research Interests

Scholarship explores teacher growth and change through action research, living educational theory methodology, and the integration of technology into practice.

Research Interest Keywords

Teacher Research, Technology, Action Research, Values-based Research

Research Methods Keywords

Action Research, Qualitative Methods

Software Used in Your Research

Hardware Used in Your Research


Dale Williams
Chair and Professor, Communication Disorders Clinic
Department of Communication Disorders Clinic

Research Interests

communication sciences, communication disorders, stuttering, fluency

Research Interest Keywords

Communication Sciences, Communication Disorders, Stuttering, Fluency, Fluency Disorders, Stammering

Research Methods Keywords

Quantitative Methods, Qualitative Methods, Survey, Literature Research, Human Subjects Research

Software Used in Your Research

Spss, Qualtrics

Hardware Used in Your Research


Sangbeak (Sam) Ye

Sangbeak (Sam) Ye

Associate Professor
Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology

Research Interests

Statistical methodology, psychometrics, latent variable modeling (structural equation modeling, factor analysis, cognitive diagnosis modeling), knowledge space theory, longitudinal analysis, machine learning (variable selection, dimension reduction, supervised/unsupervised learning), survival analysis, clinical trial.

Research Interest Keywords

Measurement, Assessment, Decision-making, Reinforcement Learning, Adaptive Systems, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Mixed Models.

Research Methods Keywords

Quantitative Methods

Software Used in Your Research

R, Python, Matlab, Sas, C++, Spss, Redcap, Qualtrics

Hardware Used in Your Research