Funded by a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, ̽̽ will launch Project RESILIENCY to train specialized and interdisciplinary leaders in the education of children and youth with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. The project will fully fund five doctoral scholars in the new PhD in Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health and Inclusive Education (SHIE) program over the next five years.
“We know that, increasingly, the need for mental health support among our children and families far exceeds what they can get outside of school,” says Justin Garwood, one of five core faculty leading the project in the College of Education and Social Services (CESS). “So, how do we meet these needs in school? We will train the future leaders who will help us answer that question.”
The PhD in SHIE will prepare future leaders in higher education through a rigorous pedagogical, theoretical, and methodological program anchored in community-engaged, equity-oriented, trauma-informed, and evidence-based practices. A comprehensive, cohort-based approach is designed to cultivate future faculty members who teach effectively and conduct high-quality research that is relevant, cutting-edge, and useful in supporting positive child outcomes.
CESS core faculty members leading the project with Garwood are Shana Haines, Bernice Garnett, Colby Kervick, and Jessica Strolin-Goltzman. The PhD in SHIE places intentional emphasis on scholarship activity and collaboration within the cohort and among the faculty’s professional networks. The core faculty represent the program’s interdisciplinary strength, as their expertise spans the fields of special education, social work, and public health.
“Collaboration among families, communities, and schools is necessary to support the social, emotional, and behavioral health of our children,” says Haines. “There are examples of successful collaboration with great results, but a great deal of work is necessary to increase equity in these collaborative efforts. Scholars in our program will engage in communities to understand complex issues and apply cutting-edge methodology and evidence-based practices to spur meaningful change.”
Doctoral scholars in the program will engage with in-person seminars, online learning, and professional conferences that support their success while completing courses and fieldwork that prepare them to conduct rigorous and meaningful research. They will learn from a combination of SHIE coursework, doctoral methods classes, methodology institutes, mentorship with interdisciplinary faculty, and practicum experiences in the field involving research, teaching, service, and policy.
Recruitment is now underway as the project seeks professionals ready to engage in full-time doctoral studies over four years aimed at creating proactive, innovative, and interdisciplinary solutions to complex issues affecting the social, emotional, and behavioral health of children and youth.
Recruited as a cohort into the program for Fall 2023, RESILIENCY scholars will receive full tuition support along with a stipend, insurance, and financial resources for travel and other expenses related to the project. Applications are welcome from professionals who have experience working with students with disabilities in applied settings. Applicants must hold a master’s degree, preferably in a related field such as education, special education, social work, counseling, or cognitive science.
“I am delighted that this talented and multidisciplinary group of faculty was successful in the competitive grant process that resulted in funding for Project RESILIENCY,” says Interim Dean Katharine Shepherd. “The award builds upon our college's mission to support students, families, and communities through our professional and academic programs and our collaborative and community-engaged research. It comes at an opportune time as we launch SHIE, our newest PhD program, and continue our commitments to preparing leaders and future faculty whose innovative practices and scholarship will promote health and wellness in our communities.”
Visit the Project RESILIENCY webpage to learn more about the program, core faculty, and how to apply.
About ̽̽’s Department of Education
Undergraduate and graduate programs in ̽̽’s Department of Education feature innovative and rigorous curriculum, research-informed practices, extensive and carefully sequenced field-based experiences in public schools, and community-engaged service learning. Central to each academic program is a deep commitment to inclusive education, culturally responsive instruction, community engagement, and global awareness. Internationally prominent faculty lead undergraduate and graduate programs in teacher education, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership and policy studies, place-based education, and special education.