Education

 Ph.D. in Family and Human Development, Utah State University, May 1999
M.Ed. in Psychological Services, Idaho State University, August 1992
B.S. in Psychology, Idaho State University, May 1991

Research Interests

 My research interests include early language development, emergent literacy, parent-child interaction, parent supports of children's language and regulation skills, progream evaluation, early childhood professional development, and early intervention.  My researach is primarily quantitative with at-risk populations.

Research Activities

 STORYTELLING FOR HOME ENRICHMENT OF LANGUAGE AND LITERACY SKILLS (SHELLS).  This project is funded by the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The purpose of this project is to develop and evaluate a curriculum to promote children's language and literacy skills through shared conversations, creation of meaningful literacy materials that are culturally appropriate, and encouragement of language and literacy support.  Several Migrant Head Start centers are currently assisting with the evaluation and refinement of this curriculum.

 USING TECNOLOGY FOR EMERGENT LITERACY AND LANGUAGE (UTELL).  This study is funded by the U.S. Office of Education, Office of Special Education Programs to evaluate the UTELL approach.  This approach was designed to promote shared conversation around meaningful literacy experiences through the use of digital imagery to illustrate family-created stories in book format.  Participants include both English and Spanish-speaking families with toddlers with language delays.

VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS AND SCHOOL READINESS:  WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR SUCCESS?   The purpose of this study is to examine very low birthweight children's academic and emotion/self regulation skills at school entry and explore the influence of early mother-infant interaction on these developing skills.  Pilot data for this study has been collected.  Currently, grants are being prepared to obtain funding for this study.

    I am interested in working with students in any of the research areas listed above or in other related areas.  I am very willing to listen to students' ideas and explore related lines of research