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.
Research Interests
My research encompasses teacher education, curriculum theory, and educational policy, with a specific focus on the pedagogical preparation of pre-service teachers during their student teaching placements. I examine the interplay between legislation, practice, and education in fostering teachers' reflective and informed teaching approaches. I aim to advance research-driven approaches that align institutional expectations with the realities of modern classrooms.
Research Interest Keywords
Curriculum Development And Theory, Teacher Education, Educational Policy, Literacy, Reading Development, And Professional Development
Research Methods Keywords
Qualitative Methods, Mixed Methods, Survey And Interview Methodology, Case Study Research, Content Analysis, Autoethnography, Action Research
Software Used in Your Research
ATLAS.ti, NVivIo, MAXQDA, SPSS, Excel, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms
Hardware Used in Your Research
Digital Voice Recording (Zoom, Otter, AI, Etc.), Wearable Technology, Archival Devices For Fata Handling And Storage.
Research Interests
Within the field of Counselor Education, my research focuses on the therapeutic relationship and alliance, and in trauma-informed counseling practices. I am particularly interested in how these domains intersect to inform counselor development, supervision, and training models.
Research Interest Keywords
Therapeutic Alliance, Counseling, Supervision, Trauma, Co-occurring Disorders
Research Methods Keywords
Qualitative Methods, Quantitative Methods, Case Studies
Software Used in Your Research
SPSS, Qualtrics
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
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
Research Interests
My research explores innovative instructional design across corporate and educational contexts, with a focus on distance learning. I've developed professional development models and student support services, crafted robotics-based learning strategies for K-12 virtual environments, and am currently investigating the integration of AI tools into instructional design.
Research Interest Keywords
AI Literacy, AI Self-efficacy, Robotic Self-efficacy, Student Support Services For Distance Learning, Quality Professional Development, Instructional Game Design
Research Methods Keywords
Mix Methods, Survey Methodology, Trend Analysis
Software Used in Your Research
Qualtrics, Excel And Copilot Integration, SPSS. Nvivio
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
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
Research Interests
My research interests are in the areas of special education teacher education, the inclusion of young children with special needs in school and community settings, challenging behaviors, and diverse children and families.
Research Interest Keywords
Early Childhood/early Childhood Special Education (ECE/ECSE), Developmentally Appropriate Practice In ECE/ECSE, Disability Studies, Inclusion, Young Children With Special Needs, Special Education, And Special Education Teacher Education.
Research Methods Keywords
Qualitative Methods, Quantitative Methods, Survey Methodology
Software Used in Your Research
NVivio, SPSS, Qualtrics,
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
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, Independent Living Skills, Culture And Disability, Special Education Teacher Preparation
Research Methods Keywords
Single-case Design, Secondary Data Analysis, Data Mining
Software Used in Your Research
SPSS
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
Research Interests
My research broadly looks at integrated behavioral health solutions to promote wellness in healthcare and educational settings. I am particularly interested in the wellness and quality of life for individuals with disabilities and chronic illness, as well as adolescents and emerging adults (18-29). To promote the workforce, I am also interested in exploring creative strategies to prepare healthcare providers and educators to meet the evolving needs of society.
Research Interest Keywords
Integrated Care, Wellness, Chronic Illness, Disabilities, Adolescents, Emerging Adults, Behavioral Health Workforce Development, Group Counseling
Research Methods Keywords
Person-centered Statistics, Latent Variables, Mixed Modeling, Instrument Development, Qualitative Methods, Action Research
Software Used in Your Research
SPSS, Intellectus, R, MPlus, JASP, Qualtrics
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
Research Interests
My research interests focus on the intersection of higher education and issues such as student success, teaching and learning, workforce education, transfer and general education, graduate education, and more. I am also interested in utilizing research to inform policy and practice in higher education. Finally, the leadership, management and administration is at the heart of my study of higher education.
Research Interest Keywords
Community Colleges, Community College Baccalaureate, Student Affairs, Student Success, Teaching & Learning, Curriculum, Leadership, Universities, Higher Education Policy, Governance, Workforce Education, Transfer Education And Partnerships, Community Education
Research Methods Keywords
Qualitative, Mixed Methods, Survey Methodology, Data Base Research, Case Studies, Policy Research
Software Used in Your Research
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
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
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
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
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
Joel Herbst
Research Interests
My research interests center on innovation and strategic planning, with a focus on designing and scaling educational models that optimize the PK-12 learning experience.
Research Interest Keywords
Strategic Planning, Educational Modeling, PK-12 Education, And Learning Strategies
Research Methods Keywords
Software Used in Your Research
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
Research Interests
My research interests focus on school leadership development, positive school cultures and improved student outcomes.
Research Interest Keywords
PK-12 School Leadership, School Leadership Coaching/Mentoring
Research Methods Keywords
Qualitative Methods
Software Used in Your Research
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
Research Interests
My research focuses on evidence-based practices in literacy interventions aimed at improving outcomes for students with disabilities. I'm interested in ways to provide professional development to increase teacher self-efficacy in inclusive settings.
Research Interest Keywords
Writing Instruction, Reading Instruction, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Teacher Education, Professional Development, Literacy Interventions, Learning Disabilities
Research Methods Keywords
Single Case Design, Quantitative Methods, Survey Methodology, Action Research
Software Used in Your Research
SPSS, Qualtrics
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
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
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
Research Interests
My research focuses on employment, community engagement, and pathways to adulthood for autistic and developmentally disabled individuals. I examine family-led entrepreneurship, workplace practices, and community programs that expand access to meaningful opportunities.
Research Interest Keywords
Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Transition To Adulthood, Employment, Family Entrepreneurship, Small Business Development, Workplace Practices, Vocational Rehabilitation, Postsecondary Transition, Adult Services, Community Programs, Program Development, Workforce Development, Independent Living, Person-centered Planning, Self-determination, Adult Outcomes, Service Systems, Qualitative Research, Community Engagement, Municipal Programs, Business Training, Employer Education, Professional Training, Disability Policy, Workforce Readiness, Career Preparation, Support Services, Adult Learning, Applied Research
Research Methods Keywords
Qualitative Research, Phenomenology, Case Studies, Interview Methods, Survey Methodology, Community-based Research, Program Evaluation, Applied Research, Content Analysis, Narrative Analysis, Needs Assessment, Participatory Research, Practitioner-researcher Methods, Mixed-methods Design
Software Used in Your Research
Qualtrics, MAXQDA
Hardware Used in Your Research
Research Interests
STEM Drone Club, History and Philosophy of Science, Brain-Computer Interface, Team-based Learning, BSCS 5-E Teaching Model, Web-Assisted Instruction in Physics, Asteroid Mining, Computer Supported Teaching, Programming in C++, Java, and Python, Engineering Design, How Students Learn Programming, Physics and Mathematics
Research Interest Keywords
Teacher Education. Research Topics In Physics, Research Topics In Mathematics, Research Topics In Computer Programming, Adaptive Learning
Research Methods Keywords
Database Research, Qualitative Methods, Quantitative Methods, Survey Methodology
Software Used in Your Research
SPSS, Excel, Mini-Tab, Java, Python
Hardware Used in Your Research
Oscilloscopes, Spectrometers
Research Interests
My research interests focus on the transition from school to adult life, inclusive education, classroom management, autism, and applied behavior analysis.
Research Interest Keywords
Research Methods Keywords
Single Subject Research Methodology
Software Used in Your Research
SPSS
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
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
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
Research Interests
I am interested in documenting the varied and complex ways teachers and children use their multiple languages and modes in preschool contexts and exploring how functional language instruction can provide emergent-to-advanced bilingual students with meaningful access to content area knowledge and discourse. My academic orientation is sociological in nature, comprising of the intersections of bi/multilingualism, social justice, and education. In my research, I employ ethnographic, discourse-analytic, and statistical approaches to analyze textual and video data documenting sociocultural influences on participants’ language and literacy development.
Research Interest Keywords
TESOL, Bilingual Education, Applied Linguistics, Early Childhood, Language Practices, Discourse Analysis
Research Methods Keywords
Qualitative Methods, Ethnography, Case Study, Discourse Analysis
Software Used in Your Research
Atlas.ti, Leximancer, Spss, Noldus, Qualtrics
Hardware Used in Your Research
Video Cameras, Swivl, Microphone, Transcription Services.
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
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
Research Interests
My research interests relate to assessment literacy and research capital, as well as educational assessment and measurement, which are critical to supporting individuals in making sense of data and being critical of their own knowledge, learning, teaching, and inquiry.
Research Interest Keywords
Program Evaluation, Curriculum Alignment, Assessment Literacy, AI Literacy, Pre-service Teachers, In-service Teachers, Parent Involvement, Math Anxiety, Research Anxiety,
Research Methods Keywords
Mixed-method Research, Integration Of Quantitative And Qualitative Methods, Regressions, Mean Differences, Survey Research, Correlational Research, Systematic Reviews, SPSS, Criterion, Rayyan, Zotero,
Software Used in Your Research
SPSS, Qualtrics, R, Criterion, Rayyan, Zotero
Hardware Used in Your Research
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
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
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