University of Delaware experts share insights and strategies for navigating the upcoming school year

Experts have unique perspectives on school food, diversity and disability services for the 2024-2025 school year.

Aug 13, 2024

2 min

Allison KarpynRoderick L. CareyJoshua WilsonLeigh McLean

The College of Education and Human Development in the University of Delaware has a number of stories and experts for the upcoming school year. 


Stories







Experts


Allison Karpyn – an associate professor who can speak to topics related to hunger, obesity, school food, supermarket access, and food insecurity. She has spoken extensively about food in schools and can offer context to those subjects.



Roderick Carey – an assistant professor whose current interdisciplinary research serves to make sense of the school experiences of black and Latino adolescent boys and young men in urban contexts. He can also talk about teacher education as it relates to men in the field/the impact of male teachers.


To contact Karpyn or Carey, click their profiles. 


More experts...


If you would like to pursue any of these stories or speak to any of the following experts, they are all willing and excited to chat. Contact mediarelations@udel.edu to speak to them.






Eric Layland – an assistant professor who can speak about LGBTQ+ student experiences from a research perspective. His work bridges LGBTQ+ developmental research to community impact through developmentally-informed, affirmative interventions.













Sarah Mallory – an assistant professor who specializes in special education with a special focus on autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also works within the Center for Disabilities Studies.


















Sarah Curtiss – an assistant professor who specializes in special education with a special focus on autistic youth.
















Brittany Zakszeski – an assistant professor and nationally certified school psychologist, licensed psychologist and behavior analyst. She focuses on student and teacher mental health and can comment on what concealed weapons carried by teachers can do for the mental wellbeing of both students and teachers.












Lauren Bailes – an associate professor who focuses on the ways in which organizational, social-cognitive, and leadership theory unite to promote the success of school leaders and K-12 students.















Bryan VanGronigen – an assistant professor who specializes in organizational resilience and change management in K-12 schools with specific interest areas in efforts to improve schools, the preparation and professional development of educational leaders and educational policy analyses.















Lynsey Gibbons – an associate professor specializing in mathematics education, in teacher professional learning and school partnerships across content areas. 










Contact mediarelations@udel.edu to speak to these experts or for more information on the stories above. 

Connect with:
Allison Karpyn

Allison Karpyn

Associate Professor, Education; Senior Associate Director, Center for Research in Education and Social Policy

Prof. Karpyn can speak to topics such as obesity, food policy and community nutrition.

Farmer’s MarketsSupermarket AccessObesityFood InsecurityPublic Health
Roderick L. Carey

Roderick L. Carey

Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Sciences

Prof. Carey's research serves to make sense of the school experiences of black and Latino adolescent boys and young men in urban contexts.

Teacher EducationPost-Secondary EducationDevelopmental PsychologyAfrican American Education‎Latino Education
Joshua Wilson

Joshua Wilson

Associate Professor, Education

Prof. Wilson's research focuses on ways that technology and artificial intelligence can improve the teaching and learning of writing.

Writing InstructionWriting AssessmentAutomated ScoringAutomated FeedbackArtificial Intelligence in Education
Leigh McLean

Leigh McLean

Associate Research Professor, Education

Prof. McLean investigates how teachers’ emotions and emotion-related experiences including well-being impact their effectiveness.

Developmental PsychologyInstructional PracticesTeachers and TeachingWell-BeingClassroom Behavior

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from University of Delaware

2 min

Summit examines how democracy can survive a toxic media environment

Journalists, scholars, students and civic leaders from across the U.S. and abroad will explore the evolving relationship between media and democracy May 5-6 at the University of Delaware. The second SNF Ithaca x iMEdD Media and Democracy Summit will examine how we can thrive in a toxic media environment where misinformation spreads, local journalism is in decline and trust in traditional institutions has eroded. The event is co-hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Initiative at the University of Delaware, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration and the incubator for Media Education & Development (iMEdD). The summit will engage participants in urgent conversations about media’s role in shaping informed citizenship and democratic resilience. A selection of confirmed speakers includes: ▪ Carmela Boykin, The Washington Post ▪ Astead W. Herndon, The New York Times ▪ Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN ▪ Domenico Montanaro, NPR ▪ Tara Palmeri, The Red Letter ▪ Dave Rubin, The Rubin Report Additional speakers include representatives from Media Matters for America, WHYY, Spotlight Delaware, Delaware Public Media, 2Puntos and more. The program will also feature workshops on digital storytelling and short-form video, panels on misinformation, and discussions about rebuilding trust and reimagining journalism for a new generation. The event takes place at the Trabant University Center, 17 W. Main Street, Newark, Del. To cover the summit, contact mediarelations@udel.edu. Timothy Shaffer, SNF Chair of Civil Discourse and associate professor of public policy and administration at UD, is available for interviews in advance of the event. To arrange an interview, visit his profile and click on the contact button. About the SNF Ithaca Initiative SNF Ithaca, an initiative of the University of Delaware's Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration, seeks to advance democracy by equipping students with the civil discourse and civic engagement skills necessary to navigate the mediated public square. Supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), SNF Ithaca is named after the home of Odysseus—one of Greek mythology's greatest heroes. For Odysseus, Ithaca represents not only the beginning of a journey but the ultimate destination. Likewise, the SNF Ithaca Initiative serves as both the beginning of the Biden School students' journey toward becoming engaged and effective citizens and as the ultimate destination for students across the country to come together and work in partnership to develop policy solutions.

2 min

Education expert: Delaware needs to reform its education funding system

In the next year, residents of Delaware will have the opportunity to voice their opinions about school funding in support of the students and teachers in the state's public schools. School funding reform is urgently needed. Delaware has an unusually high number of students requiring additional resources to succeed — including students with disabilities, students living in poverty, and English learners. While Delaware spends more than the national average on public education, the funding is not sufficient to meet the needs of these students and their teachers. The evidence is clear. Compared to other states, Delaware ranks near the bottom in reading and math performance, according to the Nation’s Report Card (the National Assessment of Educational Progress). Reading and math scores have been declining for the past decade, with 8th grade reading reaching an all-time low in 2024. Delaware’s spending has not kept up with student needs, and the state struggles to compete with neighboring states for top teaching talent. Beginning teacher salaries are the lowest among nearby states, with even lower salaries in less wealthy communities. Unlike every other state, Delaware does not allocate more funds to districts with less property wealth, further deepening disparities. The stakes are high. Delaware’s students and teachers deserve strong support, and the state’s economy — including businesses, employers, and universities — depends on graduates who are well-prepared for careers and higher education. Delaware’s current school funding system, largely unchanged for 80 years, lags behind reforms enacted in other states. Many states have shifted funding to prioritize student needs and address inequities, resulting in measurable improvements in academic achievement, graduation rates, school climate, and college and career readiness. In the coming months, the Public Education Funding Commission will complete its review and present recommendations to update the funding system. When Governor Matt Meyer — a champion for Delaware’s public schools — sends his recommendations to the General Assembly for consideration, public understanding and engagement will be crucial. –––– Gary Henry is a professor at the University of Delaware and a commissioner on the Public Education Funding Commission. He specializes in education policy, educational evaluation, educator labor markets, and quantitative research methods. He is available for interviews on education funding, accountability and related policy changes, helping ensure Delawareans are fully informed as they prepare to voice their views on this important investment in the state’s future. He has advised various states on education funding including Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas. 

2 min

Researchers laying the groundwork to eventually detect cerebral palsy via blood test

At the University of Delaware, molecular biologist Mona Batish in collaboration with Dr. Robert Akins at Nemours Children Hospital, is studying tiny loops in our cells called circular RNAs — once thought to be useless leftovers, but now believed to play an important role in diseases like cancer and cerebral palsy (CP). This is detailed in a new article in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. What are circular RNAs? They’re a special type of RNA that doesn’t make proteins but instead helps control how genes are turned on and off. Because they’re stable and can be found in blood, they may help doctors detect diseases more easily. So what’s the connection to cerebral palsy? CP is the most common physical disability in children, but right now it’s diagnosed only after symptoms appear — there’s no clear-cut test for it. Batish and her team are trying to change that. Working with researchers at Nemours Children’s Health, Batish discovered that in children with CP, a certain circular RNA — circNFIX — is found at much lower levels in muscle cells. This RNA normally helps the body make an important muscle-building protein called MEF2C. When circNFIX is missing or low, MEF2C isn’t made properly, which may lead to the weakened, shorter muscles seen in CP. This is the first time researchers have shown a link between circular RNAs and human muscle development in cerebral palsy. Why does this matter? If scientists can confirm this link, it could lead to: Earlier and more accurate diagnosis of CP using a simple blood test New treatments that help improve muscle development in affected children Batish’s ultimate goal? To create a test that can spot CP at birth — or even before — giving kids a better shot at early treatment and a higher quality of life. To speak to Batish, contact mediarelations@udel.edu. 

View all posts