Degrees: PHD, 2007, Univ Alabama Tuscaloosa; MA, 2004, Univ Alabama Tuscaloosa; BA, 2002, Missouri Southern State Coll

Bio:

I am an Assistant Professor with primary responsibilities in the Department of Research, Counseling, Special Education, and Rehabilitation. I have earned my Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a specialization in learning and cognition and a minor in research methodology from the University of Alabama in 2007. At Hofstra University, I will be teaching Measurement and Evaluation (RES 240) and Understanding Research Methodology (RES 258). I have also had previous experience teaching Introductory Educational Psychology and Social and Psychological Foundations in Education.

My research focuses on Hope Theory, a cognitive motivational construct that attempts to explain educational experiences through subconstructs of agency and pathways, and informs practice through specific interventions that can facilitate improved academic motivation, self-regulation and achievement for struggling students. Presently, I have replicated significant findings between the Dispositional Hope Scale, Academic Hope Scale, and academic achievement. Currently I am validating the Expanded Academic Hope Scale (E-AHS) along with other academic domain-specific hope measures (i.e. English and Math hope) I have designed to assess students’ perceived ability to succeed in specific educational contexts. The purpose of my research is to inform classroom practices and improve academic achievement through building psychological buffers that allow students to overcome obstacles. Through my work, I have contributed to The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology and The Handbook of Positive Psychology in the Schools.