Faculty Mentors: Dr. Verónica Valdez and Dr. José Gutiérrez

Research interests: I study how to make school a place where you don’t have to leave your voice, your language, or your identity at the door to succeed.

Fun Talent: I have a special talent for cooking and adaptation.

Can’t live without: A reliable laptop, internet, my community and mentors, my pink pencil, and a pen drive.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alexander Hyres

Research interests: My research is focused on Critical Race Theory with an emphasis in TribalCrit. I focus my attention on Indigenous and Native American communities within higher education.

Fun Talent: I do Native American beadwork and dancing at powwows across the U.S.

Can’t live without: Caffeine and piano cover playlists.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Benally

Research interests: Exploring more expansive understandings of social and emotional learning that emphasize humanizing and liberation-focused approaches.

Fun Fact: I love a good long walk with my dogs and yapping about pop culture. I am also very passionate about guiding people on visits to SLC.

Can’t live without: Music, tea, the writing corner of my couch, my whiteboard, and ice cream.

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Kathleen Strickland-Cohen

Research interests:My research interests center on improving schoolwide support systems like MTSS and PBIS, so students receive the right level of behavioral support at the right time. I also study behavior-based supports for vulnerable students, including those in foster care or experiencing homelessness.

Fun talent: Rock climbing and crafting are my two main passions outside of school and family!

Can’t live without: Coffee, coffee, coffee,coffee, and the shawarma food truck.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lauren Barth-Cohen

Research interests:How learners—and science teachers—engage in science (working with data, designing experiments, and making field observations) and how teachers’ learning experiences shape their classroom teaching.

Fun Talent: I sing in a community choir, I enjoy landscape/nature painting, I love gardening.

Can’t live without: Snacks at my desk, noise-cancelling headphones, a sturdy backpack, extra charger cables, and water bottle.

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Breda O'Keeffe

Research interests: I love qualitative research. Any research that lets me gain a deeper understanding of people and their beliefs and experiences is most interesting to me.

Fun talent: I'm fluent in German and also speak Croatian. I'm currently re-learning Spanish as well.

Can’t live without: My phone, my MacBook, coffee, a Stanley cup, and trail mix.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Wenyang Sun

Research interests: Much of the scholarship on family engagement has been shaped by perspectives that don't reflect the experiences of Pacific Islander communities. My research asks: what happens when we center Pacific Islander families and their ways of knowing?

Fun Talent: I love music, and I play the clarinet and piano.

Can’t live without: My patient partner Joshua, my rambunctious dog, my loving family, and my beautiful friends.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alicia Hoerner

Research interests: I am interested in developing standardized bilingual assessment measures for psychoeducational evaluations. I am also interested in investigating interpreter bias and finding ways to ensure that interpreters are not adding their own opinions during IEP meetings, for example.

Experience highlight: We are all in this together, and it feels amazing to be part of creating a community with my fellow students.

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Udita Gupta and Dr. Holly Godsey

Research interests:I want to look at how hands-on learning, especially in soil and water, increases student success in the classroom. I don't do research at the U, but this is happening in my classroom.

Fun talent: Making an excuse to ride my bike, gardening, and making friends with strangers.

Can’t live without: Coffee, dogs, sunshine, fresh air,and bike rides.

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Sharlene Kiuhara

Research interests: I am interested in researching the effects that the Covid-19 shut down had on our kids, families, and education in general. I also have an interest in mental health and finding practical interventions that can be used in the classroom to improve educational outcomes.

Fun talent: I play four instruments, have written music, and I'm a professional artist.

Can’t live without:My computer,my family, caffeine, chocolate, and a quiet room to retreat to.

Faculty Mentors: Audrey Robbins

Research interests: I like to research applicable knowledge that can be used during instruction in the classroom, when working with children who have Autism, developmental delays, or other disabilities.

Fun talent:I enjoy playing the flute, the outdoors, hiking, and spending time with family. I also love pickleball! I also love movies, theater, and musicals.

Can’t live without: Dr. Pepper Zero sugar,and planned relaxing time-- downtime or "me time" for balance.

Faculty Mentors:Dr. Sharlene K.

Research interests: Interested in behavior and specifically using seclusion rooms or time-out areas. Another area I am interested in is the benefits of having service dogs in school!

Fun talent: I have fostered 46 dogs/cats. I love to ski and be outside.

Can’t live without: My dog, coffee, my computer, my fiancé, and a supportive school.

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Sharlene Kiuhara

Research interests:Teacher movement and retention. 

Fun talent: I speak German.

Can’t live without:

1. Extension cord
2. Screen extender for my laptop
3. Food
4. Highlighters
5. A good pen

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Natalie Badgett

Research interests:My research interests focus on increasing visibility and understanding of autistic females within the healthcare system. This includes research examining how autistic females experience healthcare during menopause, a stage of life that is often overlooked in both autism and women’s health research.

Fun talent: Martial arts, baking, and plants. 

Can’t live without: My home office, Disney,

caffeine, Speechify, and colorful officesupplies.

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Sondra Stegenga

Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?I pursued a graduate degree because my years as a paraeducator in early childhood special education showed me where my heart and purpose truly lie.

What advice do you have for fellow graduate students? Take things one day at a time and don’t save big assignments for the last week. Speak up in Zoom classes, take risks, and engage fully. Most importantly, give yourself grace.

Can’t live without: Prayer, my family, my support system, sleep, andhot baths.

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Christina Peters

Research interests: I’m interested in research that supports parents. Families need tools that are practical, realistic, and respectful of their daily lives. I care about finding strategies that reduce conflict, build independence, and strengthen relationships between parents and children.

Fun talent: I enjoy cooking and am starting to learn photography as a hobby.

Can’t live without: 1) my laptop, 2) my phone, 3) internet, 4) coffee, 5) snacks.

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Shamby Polychronis

Research interests:My interest is in inclusion for preschool special education students.

Fun talent: I read over 200 books in 2025. I am an avid quilter.

Can’t live without: Study snacks, ERIC.com - educational research, planner, supportive professors, and Grammarly.