The work continues! Our faculty have won awards, given presentations, and kept up their essential work with community partner. Below are some of the highlights.
Julie Berrett-Abebe, PhD, LICSW, assistant professor of social work, revised and resubmitted the manuscript “Relationships Between Fear of Cancer Recurrence, and Health Behaviors and Health Service Use: A Systematic Review” that she co-authored with Reed, S.C. She also facilitated a professional development series entitled “Facilitating Courageous Conversations About Race” at Williams Middle School in Longmeadow, Mass. In addition she co-authored a paper, “Helping Community Partners Build Capacity Within Integrated Behavioral Health,” in Advances in Social Work. Lastly, Dr. Berrett-Abebe, in collaboration with faculty across the School of Education and Human Development, Egan School of Nursing and Heal Studies, and community partners, was awarded a HRSA grant focused on behavioral health workforce development.
Evelyn Bilias Lolis, Phd, associate professor of psychology and education, has been working closely in the local area to provide seminars to parents about pandemic stress and matters of resilience, mental health, and well-being. She made presentations to parents affiliated with the Monroe district Special Education PTA, the Stamford PTO of Northeast Elementary School, and Greenwich Public Schools. Lastly, Dr. Bilias Lolis moderated an interview through Hellenic Professional Women, INC with Lisa Bilyeu, founder of the Quest Bar.
Stephanie Burrell Storms, EdD, associate dean and associate professor of multicultural education, was awarded the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – New Haven Metropolitan Chapter 2021 Candace Education Leadership Award. Dr. Storms is being recognized for her diligent work as an educator and advocacy for students. She also wrote “You Need to Be More Social: Controlling Images of Black Women in Tenure Dossiers” in R. Endo, EdD, “Experiences of racialization in predominantly White institutions: Critical reflections on inclusion in US colleges and schools of education” New York: Routledge. Dr. Storms also chaired the New England Conference for Multicultural Education. Lastly she collaborated with
Terri Germain-Williams, PhD, assistant professor and director of teacher education, and Jessica Baldizon MA ’15, on “Learning to pivot: Leveraging the virtual environment to sustain a school/university partnership for effective antiracist practices.”
Nicole Fletcher, PhD, assistant professor of educational studies and teacher preparation, was elected to the board for the American Education Research Association (AERA) Special Interest Group for Research in Mathematics Education. Her co-authored publication entitled “Investigating Evidence of Girls’ and Boys’ Early Symmetry Knowledge Through Multiple Modes of Assessment” will be presented at the 14th International Congress of Mathematical Education in Shanghai, China. Dr. Fletcher has also been named a STAR fellow by the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) for her stellar career as a math educator. The AMTE recently published the article she co-wrote, “Responding to Current Field Experience Challenges with the Virtualization of Number Talks,” about the implementation of the virtual “Number Talks” routine she implemented with her students.
Jule McCombes-Tolis, PhD, associate professor and director of the Reading and Language Development Program, co-authored, released, and presented the final report of the Connecticut Task Force to analyze the implementation of laws governing Dyslexia instruction and training to the Conn. Legislature. She was also appointed to the board of directors of the Alliance for Black Children with Dyslexia.
Stephaney Morrison, PhD, associate professor of counselor education, presented “A Person-centered Approach to Facilitating Counseling Students' Social Advocacy” at the North Atlantic Region Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (NARACES) Year of Learning Conference. She also wrote a chapter that was accepted by the Handbook of Caribbean Education titled, “Bridging Cultures Between Jamaican immigrants’ home and U.S. schools: A study on Jamaican Immigrants Childrearing Values. Dr. Morrison also facilitated “BIPOC Space for Asian Faculty and Students of Color” at the North Atlantic Region Association of Counselor Education and Supervision. Lastly, she was a panelist for International Students and Faculty Interest Network on the topic of career/job search as an international faculty.
Jocelyn Novella, PhD, assistant professor of counselor education, created three telemental health training modules and co-authored a poster presentation, “The Association Between Insomnia and Suicidal Ideation in a National Sample of College Students: The Moderating Effects of Prescription Medications,” for the New England Psychological Association conference.
Dilani Perera, PhD, LPC-S, LDCD, chair of counselor education, presented a webinar entitled “The Relationship Between Consultation Skill and LGBTQ Counseling Competence” with Moe, J. and Sparkman-Key, N. M. at the American Counseling Association Conference. Also her publication “Issues, Concerns, and Strategies for Success of Foreign-Born Faculty,” with Greenidge, W. L., was accepted for publication in 2022. Lastly, Dr. Perera, in collaboration with Wheeler, M., also published “Mental health informed educators: Facilitating student academic success.”
Bryan Ripley Crandall, PhD, associate professor of secondary English education and director of the Connecticut Writing Project (CWP)-Fairfield, was co-chair of the first Northeast National Writing Conference. In his teacher series, THE WRITE TIME, with the National Writing Project, he featured guest authors Matt De lea Peña, Cris Crutcher, and Joseph Bruchac. Dr. Crandall also contributed “To Write or Not to Write - That’s the Question” in V. Malo-Juvera, P. Greathouse, and B. Eisenbach Shakespeare and Young Adult Literature. He also collaborated with Olcott, K. C. and Lewis, E. C. on “Iterating for Inclusion: A Cross-Case Analysis of Three Summer Writing Programs for Youth” in Reading & Writing Quarterly.
Lastly, he facilitated the following workshops: Building, Becoming, and Writing Our Lives. Martin Luther King Youth Leadership Academy, Fairfield University; Presiding Over Imagination, Milo Meets Harding High School (through funding from the Mary Alice Fitch Trust); Unloading a Response to Gun Violence: Pens in the Hands of Writers; and Writing in the Limelight with the Superpower of Hope — Collaborating for Inclusivity and the Support of All Writers with Howe, D., King, W., Baldizon, J., and Vendrella, S.
Tracey Robert, PhD, LPC professor of Counselor Education had her book chapter CES Specializations: Career Counseling accepted for the “Teaching and Administration in Counselor Education: A Practical Guide for Training Graduate Students and New Educators.” She additionally designed, coordinated, and taught the first interprofessional, interdisciplinary course, Integrating Spirituality into Counseling: Standing on Holy Group. Dr. Robert also had the following book chapters accepted for publication: CES Specializations: Career Counseling and Teaching and Administration in Counselor Education: A Practical Guide for Training Graduate Students and New Educators.
Jay Rozgonyi, MLIS, associate vice provost for pedagogical innovation and effectiveness, facilitated several sessions at the Northeast Regional Computing Program (NERCOMP) Annual Conference, entitled “No, We’re Not Putting Cameras in the Classrooms: Stressing Pedagogy Over New Technology in Responding to COVID,” and “Why It’s Time to Re-Examine our Commitment to the LMS.”
Emily Shamash, EdD, co-director of special education, directed the spring online program Transition Opportunities for Post Secondary Success (TOPS) in partnership with Special Education Co-Director Alyson Martin, EdD, and the Kennedy Center. She also submitted the manuscript for “We’re All on the Same Page: The use of Technology Applications to Effectively Communicate with Families of Students with Disabilities” to the Journal of Special Education Technology.
Emily Smith, PhD, professor of English education, was program co-chair for American Educational Research Association Division K Program for the 2021 Annual Meeting (Teaching and Teacher Education). She also organized and facilitating a pre-conference workshop, entitled “Mid-Career Trajectories in Education.”
Jay Taylor, LCSW, clinical director of social work, was awarded the TAKE A STAND Award by The Center For Family Justice for preventing violence against women and girls. He has also made multiple presentations to the VA and Yale New Haven Health on topics including healthy masculinity and violence prevention.
Evelyn Bilias Lolis, Phd, associate professor of psychology and education, has been working closely in the local area to provide seminars to parents about pandemic stress and matters of resilience, mental health, and well-being. She made presentations to parents affiliated with the Monroe district Special Education PTA, the Stamford PTO of Northeast Elementary School, and Greenwich Public Schools. Lastly, Dr. Bilias Lolis moderated an interview through Hellenic Professional Women, INC with Lisa Bilyeu, founder of the Quest Bar.
Stephanie Burrell Storms, EdD, associate dean and associate professor of multicultural education, was awarded the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – New Haven Metropolitan Chapter 2021 Candace Education Leadership Award. Dr. Storms is being recognized for her diligent work as an educator and advocacy for students. She also wrote “You Need to Be More Social: Controlling Images of Black Women in Tenure Dossiers” in R. Endo, EdD, “Experiences of racialization in predominantly White institutions: Critical reflections on inclusion in US colleges and schools of education” New York: Routledge. Dr. Storms also chaired the New England Conference for Multicultural Education. Lastly she collaborated with
Terri Germain-Williams, PhD, assistant professor and director of teacher education, and Jessica Baldizon MA ’15, on “Learning to pivot: Leveraging the virtual environment to sustain a school/university partnership for effective antiracist practices.”
Nicole Fletcher, PhD, assistant professor of educational studies and teacher preparation, was elected to the board for the American Education Research Association (AERA) Special Interest Group for Research in Mathematics Education. Her co-authored publication entitled “Investigating Evidence of Girls’ and Boys’ Early Symmetry Knowledge Through Multiple Modes of Assessment” will be presented at the 14th International Congress of Mathematical Education in Shanghai, China. Dr. Fletcher has also been named a STAR fellow by the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) for her stellar career as a math educator. The AMTE recently published the article she co-wrote, “Responding to Current Field Experience Challenges with the Virtualization of Number Talks,” about the implementation of the virtual “Number Talks” routine she implemented with her students.
Jule McCombes-Tolis, PhD, associate professor and director of the Reading and Language Development Program, co-authored, released, and presented the final report of the Connecticut Task Force to analyze the implementation of laws governing Dyslexia instruction and training to the Conn. Legislature. She was also appointed to the board of directors of the Alliance for Black Children with Dyslexia.
Stephaney Morrison, PhD, associate professor of counselor education, presented “A Person-centered Approach to Facilitating Counseling Students' Social Advocacy” at the North Atlantic Region Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (NARACES) Year of Learning Conference. She also wrote a chapter that was accepted by the Handbook of Caribbean Education titled, “Bridging Cultures Between Jamaican immigrants’ home and U.S. schools: A study on Jamaican Immigrants Childrearing Values. Dr. Morrison also facilitated “BIPOC Space for Asian Faculty and Students of Color” at the North Atlantic Region Association of Counselor Education and Supervision. Lastly, she was a panelist for International Students and Faculty Interest Network on the topic of career/job search as an international faculty.
Jocelyn Novella, PhD, assistant professor of counselor education, created three telemental health training modules and co-authored a poster presentation, “The Association Between Insomnia and Suicidal Ideation in a National Sample of College Students: The Moderating Effects of Prescription Medications,” for the New England Psychological Association conference.
Dilani Perera, PhD, LPC-S, LDCD, chair of counselor education, presented a webinar entitled “The Relationship Between Consultation Skill and LGBTQ Counseling Competence” with Moe, J. and Sparkman-Key, N. M. at the American Counseling Association Conference. Also her publication “Issues, Concerns, and Strategies for Success of Foreign-Born Faculty,” with Greenidge, W. L., was accepted for publication in 2022. Lastly, Dr. Perera, in collaboration with Wheeler, M., also published “Mental health informed educators: Facilitating student academic success.”
Bryan Ripley Crandall, PhD, associate professor of secondary English education and director of the Connecticut Writing Project (CWP)-Fairfield, was co-chair of the first Northeast National Writing Conference. In his teacher series, THE WRITE TIME, with the National Writing Project, he featured guest authors Matt De lea Peña, Cris Crutcher, and Joseph Bruchac. Dr. Crandall also contributed “To Write or Not to Write - That’s the Question” in V. Malo-Juvera, P. Greathouse, and B. Eisenbach Shakespeare and Young Adult Literature. He also collaborated with Olcott, K. C. and Lewis, E. C. on “Iterating for Inclusion: A Cross-Case Analysis of Three Summer Writing Programs for Youth” in Reading & Writing Quarterly.
Lastly, he facilitated the following workshops: Building, Becoming, and Writing Our Lives. Martin Luther King Youth Leadership Academy, Fairfield University; Presiding Over Imagination, Milo Meets Harding High School (through funding from the Mary Alice Fitch Trust); Unloading a Response to Gun Violence: Pens in the Hands of Writers; and Writing in the Limelight with the Superpower of Hope — Collaborating for Inclusivity and the Support of All Writers with Howe, D., King, W., Baldizon, J., and Vendrella, S.
Tracey Robert, PhD, LPC professor of Counselor Education had her book chapter CES Specializations: Career Counseling accepted for the “Teaching and Administration in Counselor Education: A Practical Guide for Training Graduate Students and New Educators.” She additionally designed, coordinated, and taught the first interprofessional, interdisciplinary course, Integrating Spirituality into Counseling: Standing on Holy Group. Dr. Robert also had the following book chapters accepted for publication: CES Specializations: Career Counseling and Teaching and Administration in Counselor Education: A Practical Guide for Training Graduate Students and New Educators.
Jay Rozgonyi, MLIS, associate vice provost for pedagogical innovation and effectiveness, facilitated several sessions at the Northeast Regional Computing Program (NERCOMP) Annual Conference, entitled “No, We’re Not Putting Cameras in the Classrooms: Stressing Pedagogy Over New Technology in Responding to COVID,” and “Why It’s Time to Re-Examine our Commitment to the LMS.”
Emily Shamash, EdD, co-director of special education, directed the spring online program Transition Opportunities for Post Secondary Success (TOPS) in partnership with Special Education Co-Director Alyson Martin, EdD, and the Kennedy Center. She also submitted the manuscript for “We’re All on the Same Page: The use of Technology Applications to Effectively Communicate with Families of Students with Disabilities” to the Journal of Special Education Technology.
Emily Smith, PhD, professor of English education, was program co-chair for American Educational Research Association Division K Program for the 2021 Annual Meeting (Teaching and Teacher Education). She also organized and facilitating a pre-conference workshop, entitled “Mid-Career Trajectories in Education.”
Jay Taylor, LCSW, clinical director of social work, was awarded the TAKE A STAND Award by The Center For Family Justice for preventing violence against women and girls. He has also made multiple presentations to the VA and Yale New Haven Health on topics including healthy masculinity and violence prevention.
