Research
Research News
Groundbreaking research is a priority at USF. Explore the latest news stories to learn more about the research our faculty and students are conducting in the College of Education.
Assistant professor receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Kenya to study education
leadership practices in diverse communities
May 26, 2021
University of South Florida (USF) Assistant Professor Jenifer Hartman, EdD, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Kenya for the 2021-22 school year.
While in Kenya, Hartman will serve as a visiting professor in the School of Education Social Sciences at Kenya Methodist University (KeMU). She will be engaged in teaching and research activities focused on culturally responsive education leadership practices in diverse communities to promote student success and will mentor university students who are orphans on scholarship at KeMU.
Assistant professor uses mini service grant to launch literacy project in St. Petersburg
May 19, 2021
Last September, after receiving numerous emails and phone calls from parents and families in search of educational resources— notably those that support reading skills—LaSonya Moore, an assistant professor in the College of Education at USF’s St. Petersburg campus, launched a literacy project through a mini service grant she received from the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.
USF Team Selected to Join New NSF Diversity Program
May 7, 2021
A cross-departmental team from USF is one of four groups chosen nationwide to participate in a new National Science Foundation (NSF) pilot program called All-ABOARD, which stands for “Alliance-Building Offshore to Achieve Resilience and Diversity.” The goal of this two-year program hosted by Columbia University to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) initiatives in STEM. Members of the team that prepared the application from the College of Education include Ruthmae Sears, PhD, and Dana Thompson Dorsey, PhD.
Assistant professor to establish Caribbean educational research center through $3.6
million grant
April 19, 2021
Patriann Smith, assistant professor of literacy studies in the USF College of Education, has been awarded a three-year, $3.6 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The grant is in partnership with the University of the West Indies Cave Hill in Barbados to establish an interdisciplinary educational research center to help support decision making and policy development for educational innovation and expansion in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.
USF faculty, students to present at 2021 American Educational Research Association
Annual Meeting
March 31, 2021
The research of more than 80 USF faculty and graduate students will be presented to the educational research community at the 2021 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting from April 8-12.
City of St. Petersburg selects USF researchers to identify, make recommendations to
address systemic racism
March 23, 2021
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of South Florida will assist the city of St. Petersburg in identifying structural racism and to make recommendations on how to address the multi-faceted issue. Researchers are expected to present their findings to the St. Peterburg City Council this summer and hope their results can be used as a national model for eliminating systemic racism.
College of Education faculty member creates podcast series, seeks to connect teachers
with education researchers
January 5, 2021
Barriers such as the lack of public access to research journals and the time it takes to sift through various publications are why Lindsay Persohn, an assistant professor of Literacy Studies at the USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, launched “Classroom Caffeine,” a podcast series that bridges the gaps between research and practice and provides a space for education researchers to share their knowledge with those working in the field.
Virtual Pecha Kucha allows faculty, students to share brief research presentations
December 2, 2020
The Fall 2020 Pecha Kucha Research Event featured the work of eight College of Education faculty and student researchers who were challenged to demonstrate the most captivating elements of their research in only six minutes and 40 seconds.
Literacy Studies faculty and students to present research, receive awards at Literacy
Research Association Annual Conference
December 1, 2020
Students, faculty members and alumni from USF’s Literacy Studies Program will present their research at the Literacy Research Association’s (LRA) 70th Annual Conference. Held virtually this year, the LRA Annual Conference brings together individuals who share an interest in advancing literacy theory, research, and practice to engage in research and dialogue pertaining to literacy and related topics.
Preschool for Creative Learning receives $1.3 million grant to support USF student
parents
November 9, 2020
The University of South Florida’s (USF) Preschool for Creative Learning (PCL) received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to provide financial assistance and other resources to USF students who are parents of preschool-aged children. The project, “Childcare Access Means Parents in School” includes funds to provide partial tuition assistance for children enrolled at the PCL whose parent is a USF student and classified as “Pell-eligible” as determined by their financial aid status.
Virtual characters created at USF to teach emergent bilingual students English
November 9, 2020
A new research-based app developed by College of Education Assistant Professor Sara Smith, PhD, will soon be accessible to K-12 students and teachers in an effort to bolster a more multilingual society. The patent-pending Multimedia Augmented Reality Vocabulary Learning (MARVL) app is paired with special vocabulary cards by using the camera lens of a smartphone or tablet, which then activate two virtual characters who teach English to Spanish-speaking students.
USF selects 23 research projects for funding in anti-racism effort
September 9, 2020
A University of South Florida research task force working to address racial issues and attitudes on a local, national and global scale has selected 23 projects exploring a wide range of issues in systemic inequality, economic and health disparities, Black history and contemporary challenges for funding. Multiple research projects from faculty and staff in the College of Education were selected for funding as part of this effort.
UMatter program to provide young people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity
for a college education and experience
August 26, 2020
A new program led by a team in the College of Education on USF's St. Petersburg campus will provide a population of students who aren’t typically represented on college campuses the opportunity to experience higher education and campus life.
USF researchers partner with nonprofits CodeVA, TERC on NSF-funded project to bring
computer science into Virginia’s middle school history classrooms
August 19, 2020
University of South Florida (USF) professor Michael J. Berson, PhD, is partnering with Virginia-based nonprofit CodeVA and math-science nonprofit TERC on a multi-year research project to broaden middle school students’ participation in meaningful and culturally relevant computer science instruction during their history classes.
College of Education students and faculty present research, win awards at NAPDS National
Conference
February 21, 2020
Numerous faculty members and students from the College of Education shared their research and innovations at the National Association for Professional Development Schools’ (NAPDS) National Conference. The NAPDS National Conference brings together school and university partnerships from around the country and abroad to address the challenges faced while meeting the needs of the next generation of students, PK-12 educators, and university faculty.
Research News Archives
- USF receives grant to support doctoral studies in literacy interventions, special education leadership (October 18, 2019)
- USF research team trains middle school educators in identifying, improving student mental health problems (July 30, 2019)
- Associate Professor receives 2019 Nutritional Research Achievement Award from National Strength and Conditioning Association (July 22, 2019)
- Educational Psychology faculty member receives Fulbright Award to Hungary (May 29, 2019)
- Second cohort of teachers joins Tampa Bay Wipro Science Education Fellowship Program (May 9, 2019)
- USF researchers host panel to discuss mental health well-being in schools (April 30, 2019)
- College of Education faculty, graduate students to present at 2019 AERA Annual Meeting (April 4, 2019)
- USF research conference explores challenges and opportunities for inclusive education (December 5, 2018)
- USF to host fully online conference on teacher residency research (September 21, 2018)
- Special issue of research journal highlights work of USF students, faculty (July 19, 2018)
- College of Education faculty, graduate students to present at 2018 AERA Annual Meeting (April 9, 2018)
- Panel of USF experts discuss arming teachers, school safety (March 22, 2018)
- Education professors launch app that helps students explore Congress, civic participation through primary sources (November 30, 2017)
- School Psychology graduate students recognized for excellence at FASP Annual Conference (November 29, 2017)
- School Psychology Professor develops new tools to help educators inform behavioral interventions (November 28, 2017)
- School Psychology Professor researches school-wide behavior interventions through National Institute of Justice Grant (November 27, 2017)
- Faculty Receive NSF Grant to Detect Cyberbullying (October 2, 2017)
- Doctoral student receives student research award for focus on terminology in science education literature (May 2, 2017)
- College of Education faculty, graduate students to present at 2017 AERA Annual Meeting (April 26, 2017)
- Instructional Technology graduate student, faculty member selected for outstanding research presentation award (March 27, 2017)
- USF College of Education helping teachers engage students with cutting edge classroom technology
- College of Education Awarded $11 Million in Grants
- Multiyear Study Investigates Stress in IB and AP Students
- PE Professor Sara Flory awarded research fellow
- USF College of Education Inquiry Conference highlights innovative research in education