Featured Post from University of Delaware

Back to School: Experts Available to talk ChatGPT, Food Insecurity and Education Leadership

Aug 23, 2023

2 min

With the school year starting very soon, the University of Delaware media team have rounded up some education stories, experts and research to consider for feature/publication.

Experts:

Gary Henry is dean of the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development and professor in the School of Education and the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration. He specializes in education policy, educational evaluation, educator labor markets, and quantitative research methods. Gary can lend context and steps to take to reverse/adapt to this new educational landscape.

Allison Karpyn is an associate professor who can speak to topics related to hunger, obesity, school food, supermarket access, food insecurity, healthy corner stores and strategies to develop and maintain farmer’s markets in low-income areas. She has spoken extensively about food in schools and can offer context to those subjects.

Joshua Wilson is an associate professor and has been featured in WaPo for his AI/ChatGPT knowledge in the past. His research broadly focuses on ways to improve the teaching and learning of writing and specifically focuses on ways that automated writing evaluation systems can facilitate those improvements.

Stories:

UD professor partners with Sesame Workshop to create Stories with Clever Hedgehog

Among the casualties of the Ukraine war are 2 million-plus children. In an effort to restore some sense of normalcy to their education years, University of Delaware professor Roberta Golinkoff—a nationally recognized expert in childhood literacy—has partnered with Sesame Workshop and others to develop Stories with Clever Hedgehog, a website with free interactive e-books, games and other resources. Books are available in both Ukrainian and English, prompting a global experience for readers of any background. There are photos and video ready for this coverage. Golinkoff and Sesame Workshop leadership are open for interviews.

Research:

Study finds teachers’ anxiety in mathematics and science was associated with the mathematics and science anxiety of their low-SES students

To reach out to specific experts, please click on their "View Profile" button.

Connect with:

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

Gary T. Henry

Professor, Education

Prof. Henry specializes in education policy, educational evaluation, educator labor markets, and quantitative research methods.

Education PolicyEducational EvaluationEducator Labor MarketsQuantitative Research Methods

Allison Karpyn

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

Roberta Golinkoff

Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Chair and Professor

Prof. Golinkoff studies language development, playful learning, effects of media on children, spatial development, and applying her science.

Early Childhood Education Early Spatial DevelopmentPlayful LearningBenefits of PlayEffects of Media on Children

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

Find Experts

Sep 3, 2026

1 min

Why Dolly Parton’s intersectional philanthropy keeps making headlines

Dolly Parton’s generosity keeps showing up in the news because it feels both big and deeply personal. Her charitable work, especially around literacy, education and community support, connects to real-life needs that people understand right away, all while being a big part of her own intersectional identity. That makes her philanthropy easy to notice and even easier to care about. Jennifer Naccarelli is chair of the Department of Women & Gender Studies here at the University of Delaware and the founding director of the Center for Study & Prevention of Gender Based Violence. On Dolly Parton's passing she said: "In practice, Dolly Parton's life is a case study in intersectionality: the various social identities that she encompassed and her interactions with various social structures led to her unique perspectives, lifelong commitments and magnificent catalog. While not an political activist, and hesitant to call herself a feminist, her work and religious identity informed her contributions to so many communities. She was an ally before that term entered the vernacular. It is truly a loss of a model human and great talent." To speak with Naccarelli about Parton and other feminist icons, email mediarelations@udel.edu.

Aug 27, 2026

2 min

Disaster Response Expert: How Flood Evacuations Impact Vulnerable Families, Infants and Companion Animals

When disasters strike, evacuation decisions can be complicated by factors that emergency planners may not always anticipate — including the needs of pets, infants and other vulnerable members of a household. University of Delaware disaster researcher Sarah DeYoung studies how people make decisions during disasters and how emergency planning can better account for the needs of families and their companion animals. Her expertise includes evacuation decision-making, companion animals in disasters, infant feeding in emergencies and maternal and child well-being during disasters. DeYoung's research is particularly relevant as communities around the world respond to natural disasters, including the devastating flooding currently affecting Nepal. DeYoung has conducted field research following 13 disasters, including the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal, where she studied maternal and infant health and feeding in the aftermath of the disaster. She says that pets can significantly influence evacuation decisions. People may delay or avoid evacuation if they cannot bring their animals with them, while others may return to dangerous areas to retrieve pets. Her work examines how emergency managers can better incorporate animals into evacuation and sheltering plans. She also studies the particular challenges facing mothers and infants during disasters, including access to food, infant feeding, shelter and other basic necessities. Topics she can discuss include: • How pets influence evacuation decisions • Challenges of evacuating and sheltering with companion animals • How emergency planners can better account for pets and families • Emergency warnings and evacuation decision making • The needs of mothers and infants during disasters • Infant feeding and access to basic necessities during disaster recovery • How disasters affect vulnerable populations and family well-being To reach DeYoung directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the "contact" button. Interested reporters can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

Aug 26, 2026

1 min

How Trade Wars Are Reshaping Fashion and Apparel

Trade disputes and tariffs have become an increasingly common part of the global economic landscape, with the fashion and apparel industry often caught in the crossfire. University of Delaware professor Sheng Lu can explain how these disruptions reshape sourcing decisions, supply chains, prices and the products ultimately available to consumers. Lu can discuss: • How new tariffs, including those on Canadian jackets and wool products, could affect consumers, fashion companies and apparel supply chains. • How tariffs can affect apparel prices and product availability for U.S. consumers. • Why fashion and apparel supply chains are particularly vulnerable to trade policy changes. • The impact of trade disputes on fashion companies and retailers in the U.S. and abroad. • What previous trade disputes can tell us about the potential consequences of tariffs. To arrange an interview, visit Lu's profile and click on the “contact” button. Interested reporters can also email MediaRelations@udel.edu.