Innovative research focuses on improvements in the field
The college’s faculty members continually contribute to advancing their fields of expertise. Here is some of their latest research, including work by faculty in the college’s highly ranked programs of student counseling (No. 4 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report) and educational psychology (No. 12 by U.S. News and World Report).
Two studies: Violence against teachers. Students most likely to cheat
Nearly half of teachers are considering quitting or transferring jobs, a main reason being violence and threats made against them, according to a nationwide survey by Eric Anderman and six colleagues serving on the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel.
Anderman also published a study in Psychology in the Schools showing that students most likely to cheat academically are those with attention problems. In the survey, students with higher levels of inattention reported higher levels of hyperactivity, and students who were more hyperactive reported a higher rate of cheating.
Social justice pedagogy prepares counselors-in-training to act
Colette Dollarhide, professor of student counseling, conducted a pilot study with a PhD alumna and a current doctoral student that examined the development of social justice identity for first- and second-year clinical and school counseling master’s students enrolled in a one-semester, multicultural and social justice counseling course.
They found that the coursework better equipped the counselors-in-training with the knowledge and skills necessary to act, and at the same time fostered the development of their social justice identities. The article appeared in the journal Teaching and Supervision in Counseling.
A discovery to improve insulin’s effect on the nervous system
Ouliana Ziouzenkova, associate professor of human nutrition, has developed a specially designed nanomaterial to which insulin is attached to enhance diabetes treatment. It offers better control of blood sugar and its use by the brain, and a lower risk for neurological problems.
Working with a team at Ohio State, Ziouzenkova compared the therapeutic effects of the experimental compound to the effects of insulin alone and the nanomaterial alone in mouse models of type 1 diabetes. They found the measures of blood sugar control and insulin-related gene activity in the brains of mice treated with the combination therapy came close to those of healthy animals. These same mice did better on tests of their thinking and memory. The research appeared in the journal Pharmaceutics.
Antiracist social emotional justice learning
Brett Zyromski, assistant professor of student counseling, partnered with the college’s student counseling alumna Renae D. Mayes, associate professor at the University of Arizona, and two school counselors to offer an approach to promote freedom and justice for students through empowerment, hope and joy.
Their approach emphasizes applying Critical Theoretical Frameworks, Anti-Bias Building Blocks, Student and Family Voice, Strengths Based Empowerment and Homeplace, all to combat the current colorblind approach to social emotional learning while cultivating the interests and talents of students and families from diverse backgrounds. This work appeared in the journal Theory into Practice.
