SOE well represented among VCU’s award winners

Nine of the university’s 55 new transdisciplinary projects were awarded to School of Education faculty and staff, totaling $920,000 in award funds and representing 21% of all research funds awarded.

The front of Oliver Hall with the old VCU logo and the name of the school.
Among 55 transdisciplinary projects awarded as part of the expansion of the university's research enterprise, nine were awarded to projects including School of Education faculty and staff, totalling $920,000 in award funds and representing 21% of all research funds awarded. (Photo: School of Education)

The VCU School of Education was well represented when Virginia Commonwealth University recently announced $4.4 million in new internal funding to innovators and scholars in support of its One VCU Research Strategic Priorities Plan. Among 55 transdisciplinary projects awarded as part of this expansion of the university's research enterprise, nine were awarded to projects including School of Education faculty and staff, totalling $920,000 in award funds. Additionally, SOE faculty received awards in all four categories. With 14 schools and colleges located across the VCU and VCU Health campuses, this represents over 16% of all the projects awarded and 21% of the research funds awarded.

"This level of representation at a public research university the caliber of VCU is particularly gratifying," said Andrew Daire, Ph.D., dean and Ruth Harris Professor in the School of Education. "It also speaks to our ability to conduct research that pursues answers to difficult societal challenges in a collaborative manner."

The One VCU Research Strategic Priorities Plan has four guiding research themes: enriching the human experience, achieving a just and equitable society, optimizing health, and supporting sustainable energy and environments. The university's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation received 170 applications for the new funding programs: the Accelerate Fund, the Breakthroughs Fund, the Quest Fund and the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Fund. The funds included stipulations for investigators to not only advance the goals of VCU's research priorities, but to garner extramural funding to further advance research in these fields.

Here is a full list of the nine projects and 15 researchers who represented the School of Education.

Accelerate Fund Awardees

Enriching the Human Experience
“Engaging Parents in After-School STEM Projects”
Yaoying Xu, Ph.D., School of Education; Katherine Dabney, Ph.D., School of Education; Moe Greene, Ph.D., School of Education

Achieving a Just and Equitable Society
“Career Pathways for Minority Underrepresented Adult Learners in Computing (CAREPATH MURAL)”
Katherine Hansen, School of Education; David Shepherd, Ph.D., College of Engineering; Monty Jones, Ph.D., School of Education; Nakisha Whittington, Ph.D., School of Education

Breakthroughs Awardees

Achieving a Just and Equitable Society
“The Effect of Parent-Driven Positive Behavior Interventions on Challenging Behavior Reduction and Home/Community Participation for Military Dependents With Autism Spectrum Disorder”
Lauren Avellone, Ph.D., School of Education; Kelli Gary, Ph.D., College of Health Professions

“Symmetry, Surfaces and Knots: Empowering Middle School Students Through Experiential Activities in Geometry”
Visala Satyam, Ph.D., College of Humanities and Sciences; Marco Aldi, Ph.D., College of Humanities and Sciences; Christine Lee Bae, Ph.D., School of Education; Allison Moore, Ph.D., College of Humanities and Sciences; Nicola Tarasca, Ph.D., College of Humanities and Sciences

“Merging Developmental and Educational Perspectives on Ethnic-Racial Identity and Ethnic-Racial Socialization to Foster Culturally Responsive Education”
Chelsea Williams, Ph.D., College of Humanities and Sciences; Fantasy Lozada, Ph.D., College of Humanities and Sciences; Hillary Parkhouse, Ph.D., School of Education; Jesse Senechal, Ph.D., School of Education

Quest Awardees

Achieving a Just and Equitable Society
“Computing in the Commonwealth: An Environmental Scan and Consensus-Based Framework for Understanding Virginia’s Specialized Secondary Computing Education Opportunities”
Jonathan Becker, Ph.D., School of Education

“Centering Youth Voice Amidst Equity Resistance Campaigns”
Andrene Castro, Ph.D., School of Education; Kevin Clay, Ph.D., School of Education

VCU Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Awardees

Achieving a Just and Equitable Society
“Making Sense: Historical Consciousness in Troubled Times”
Gabriel Reich, Ph.D., School of Education

“Understanding Belonging in Context: A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study”
Sharon Zumbrunn, Ph.D., School of Education

Related article:
VCU invests nearly $4.4 million in faculty innovators to address societal grand challenges