Dr. Whittenburg wins CEC Student Research Award

SOE alum to be recognized in March 2021

VCU School of Education alumna Holly N. Whittenburg, Ph.D., is the recipient of the Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC) Division for Research (DR) Student Research Award in Single Case Research Design Methods for 2020.

Whittenburg was recognized for her dissertation entitled "Effects of Behavioral Skills Training With in Situ Training on Workplace Conversational Skills of Transition-Aged High School Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder." She will receive the prestigious award during the 2021 CEC Convention and Expo to be held virtually in March 2021.

Whittenburg earned her Ph.D. in Special Education and Disability Leadership from SOE this past spring. Department of Counseling and Special Education Professors Colleen Thoma, Ph.D., and Yaoying Xu, Ph.D., co-chaired her dissertation committee.

“Dr. Xu and Dr. Thoma were such amazing dissertation co-chairs,” said Whittenburg. “Their guidance and expertise made this project something I am very proud of. Dr. Paul Wehman and Dr. Carol Schall also steadfastly supported me both in my work at the RRTC [Rehabilitation Research and Training Center] and in conducting this study. I’m proud to have been trained by all of you.”

The CEC is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of children and youth with disabilities, gifts and talents.

Whittenburg is currently an assistant professor of special education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Washington State University.

Learn more about Whittenburg’s research:

RRTC team examines model that helps students with ASD get jobs