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uvaehd.bsky.social
UVA School of Education and Human Development
@uvaehd.bsky.social
37 followers 1 following 200 posts
Addressing the most pressing challenges in education and human development.
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uvaehd.bsky.social
With funding from the competitive NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowship, doctoral student Jessica Smith will investigate whether autism screenings at regular pediatrician check-ups lead to earlier diagnosis.

🔗Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...
Post-Katrina New Orleans Inspired This UVA Student’s Mission
The National Institutes of Health is backing doctoral student Jessica Smith’s commitment to improve access to specialty care.
education.virginia.edu
January 14, 2026 at 8:53 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Congratulations to Peter Sheras, clinical psychologist and Professor Emeritus at UVA EHD, on receiving the 2025 Alfred M. Wellner Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to health service psychology! 👏

Learn more: www.nationalregister.org/dr-peter-she...
Dr. Peter Sheras Named Winner of 2025 Wellner Award
The Wellner awards, offered for research and practice, are the highest honors bestowed by the National Register.
www.nationalregister.org
January 13, 2026 at 8:20 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Why does time feel like it speeds up as we get older?

Professor Jamie Jirout explains that routine leads to predictability, which can make time feel like it’s flying by.

Read about why this happens and how we can slow the feeling: ow.ly/fwtY50XVOv5
Q&A: Why Does Time Go By So Fast and How Can We Slow it Down?
It’s not your imagination: Time feels like it speeds up as we age. But there are things you can do to make it seem to slow down.
ow.ly
January 12, 2026 at 8:34 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
At the Fried Center for the Advancement of Potential, kinesiology undergraduates provide one-on-one functional exercise care to clients — paid clinical work typically reserved for graduate students or licensed professionals. education.virginia.edu/news-stories...
Students Get Hands-on Clinical Experience Before Graduate School
Student interns provide one-on-one functional exercise care to clients through paid internships at UVA’s Fried Center.
education.virginia.edu
January 7, 2026 at 5:17 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Want students to gain math confidence? Celebrate their mistakes.

UVA EHD’s Wendy Amato shares six practical ways teachers can use student errors to deepen understanding — and build confidence.

Read more in @edweek.org:
www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Want Students to Gain Math Confidence? Celebrate Their Mistakes (Opinion)
A veteran educator shares six ways student errors can reshape how math is taught and experienced.
www.edweek.org
January 6, 2026 at 6:06 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
"The field of education evaluation research is in turmoil," says UVA EHD's @jsoland.bsky.social. "Like most crises, this one should not go to waste." In a recent op-ed for @brookings.edu, Soland argues for a more expansive approach to studying what works in education. ow.ly/kg5i50XLEfR
Op-Ed: A More Expansive Approach to Studying What Works in Education
Associate ProfessorJim Soland writes about the current challenges and opportunities in education evaluation research in this piece he wrote for Brookings.
education.virginia.edu
December 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Heading into the holiday break with little ones? 🎁
UVA EHD’s Amanda Williford shares how just 10 minutes of child-led play a day can strengthen relationships and build understanding.

Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...
10 Minutes of Play Can Create Holiday Joy
A simple relationship-building technique we originally shared during the pandemic can also make a positive impact for families at home during the winter break.
education.virginia.edu
December 16, 2025 at 9:03 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Doctoral candidate Danielle Waterfield received national recognition for her leadership in special education advocacy, and her IES research article was named one of
@edutopia.org's "10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2025."🎉

🔗Read more about Danielle: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...
Student Spotlight: Doctoral Candidate and Advocate Danielle Waterfield
UVA EHD doctoral candidate Danielle Waterfield has been recognized nationally for her leadership in advancing special education policy and advocacy.
education.virginia.edu
December 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
The sugarplums are still dancing in our heads after last week’s holiday gathering & gingerbread house contest! Congrats to our winning teams — and thanks to everyone who brought creativity (and candy dragons!) to this beloved tradition.
Detailed gingerbread castle with tall candy-coated towers and shingled roofs dusted in powdered sugar snow on a white tray. Group of seven people standing around a table displaying a gingerbread house and holding a certificate. Group of four people standing indoors, one holding a gingerbread house and one holding a certificate for Most UVA Themed. Four people standing indoors holding a Most Creative Award certificate and a decorated gingerbread house.
December 11, 2025 at 8:58 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Huge congratulations to alum and current master’s student Khaliah Purvis on being named Teacher of the Year at @PHSchoolACPS — in just her third year in the classroom! We’re so proud of you, Khaliah! 🎉🍎
Person holding a framed certificate in a school hallway with colorful floor tiles and other people in the background. Clear acrylic award shaped like a pentagon with an apple icon and text honoring Ms. Khaliah Purvis as Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026 at Patrick Henry K-8 School.
December 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
🎉 Congratulations to Associate Professor Laura Rogers on receiving the UCEA 2025 Jack A. Culbertson Early Career Award! This honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to the field of educational leadership.
🔗 Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...
News in Brief: Laura Rogers Honored with Early Career Award
The annual award from the University Council for Education Administration honors a junior professor’s contributions to educational leadership.
education.virginia.edu
December 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
“There’s nothing that can reverse brain aging — you can only slow the rate of it.” Associate Professor Siddhartha Angadi discussed how exercise & reducing visceral fat can help maintain a younger-looking brain in a recent NBC News article: www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
People with more muscle mass and less visceral fat have younger brains, study finds
Strength training can be protective against cognitive decline.
www.nbcnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:53 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
What happens when people who disagree actually talk? Associate Professor Rachel Wahl shares a powerful story on the When We Disagree podcast that shows how conversations leave lasting impacts, even when we don’t expect them to. Listen here: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...
News in Brief: Rachel Wahl Discusses Dialogue on the ‘When We Disagree’ Podcast
Wahl shares a specific story of two individuals with differing opinions who participated in dialogue and what it illustrates about her scholarship.
education.virginia.edu
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Grateful today and every day for our UVA EHD community. 🧡 💙

Wishing everyone a safe, restful, and joyful Thanksgiving! #wahoowa
The Rotunda, a grand neoclassical building, surrounded by orange trees and a blue sky at dusk.
November 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Congratulations to Catherine Bradshaw, University Professor and senior associate dean for research, on receiving a 2025 Alumni of Distinction Award from the University of Georgia Graduate School! Honorees are recognized for exceptional career accomplishments and community impact. ow.ly/XHI850XxKvN
Graduate School honors six outstanding alumni - UGA Today
Alumni honored for their achievements and contributions to their communities.
ow.ly
November 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Thanks to new seed funding from the Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment initiative, UVA EHD faculty and students will expand key projects that advance digital literacy and support youth well-being.

Learn more: ow.ly/rp7c50Xx30T
News in Brief: New Funding Boosts Digital Literacy and Youth Development Research
With new seed funding, researchers at the UVA School of Education and Human Development are expanding several projects focused on digital literacy and youth well-being.
ow.ly
November 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Earlier this month, our Higher Education Speaker Series brought former UVA provost and higher ed leader Gene Block back to Grounds for a timely discussion on the future of U.S. higher education. Thank you to our event sponsors & all who joined us! ow.ly/KV8550XvW4E
Are the Best Days of Higher Education Behind Us?
The Higher Education Speaker Series brought former UVA provost and experienced leader Gene Block to Grounds for a timely discussion on the future of higher education in the United States.
ow.ly
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
🎙️Schools are incredibly complex, making rigorous education research both challenging and essential. In the latest episode of the EdLab podcast, UVA EHD's Vivian Wong shares why strong research matters — and why it's especially vital now.

Listen here: ow.ly/9Bye50XuYLi
EdLab Podcast: The Power of Evidence and Why Education Research Matters
Professor Vivian Wong shares why education research is so important and why now is a critical time for it to continue.
ow.ly
November 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
More special ed teachers are turning to AI to help write IEPs. UVA EHD student Danielle Waterfield's research examines how educators are using AI for IEP development and offers one of the first ethical-use frameworks for AI in special ed.

More from Education Week: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Teachers Are Using AI to Help Write IEPs. Advocates Have Concerns
Experts call for guardrails around the ethical, legal, and instructional concerns.
www.edweek.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may soon get cheaper, thanks to a new government deal. But what happens after you stop taking them? UVA EHD's Siddhartha Angadi says it’s important to understand that “these drugs are for life.”

More here: ow.ly/VtWv50XtS2V
As GLP-1 Drugs Go Mainstream, This Expert Says Health is More than a Number on a Scale
A new deal may cut the cost of weight-loss drugs, but this UVA professor warns of potential long-term risks.
ow.ly
November 19, 2025 at 1:59 AM
uvaehd.bsky.social
🎓UVA EHD is relaunching its Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization within the M.Ed. in Counselor Education program! Prepare for LPC eligibility in Virginia and join a cohort led by nationally recognized faculty.

Learn more: ow.ly/CegE50Xt6oo
UVA Counselor Education Program Relaunches Clinical Mental Health Specialization
The specialization equips graduates to support mental health across the lifespan in diverse settings, expanding their professional opportunities.
education.virginia.edu
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
How does teacher preparation shape what happens in real classrooms? New research from UVA EHD's Peter Youngs & colleagues spotlights the experiences that support “ambitious instruction.” #EdResearch #TeacherPrep

Read more ➜ ow.ly/eiq050XrPWx
Ambitious Instruction: How Teacher Preparation Impacts Practice
Specific experiences during teacher preparation programs can impact novice teachers' use of ambitious instruction during their first and second years of teaching.
education.virginia.edu
November 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
A new analysis shows SEL programs that don’t directly teach reading or math still boost learning. The findings “re-center the conversation on why SEL is an important investment in schools," said UVA EHD's Catherine Bradshaw.

More from @edweek.org: www.edweek.org/leadership/s...
Social-Emotional Learning Linked to Higher Math and Reading Test Scores
A Yale study finds that explicitly teaching students SEL skills can have big academic payoffs.
www.edweek.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:31 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
🎖️ Today we honor all who have served — including many of our incredible students and alumni.

“Success as an educator requires commitment and discipline…defining characteristics of many with a military background,” says alum & veteran Scott Staron. ow.ly/mi3050Xqag4
Alumni Spotlight: Scott Staron, M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction
A veteran working in defense contracting, Scott Staron felt called to pursue a career in education. He graduated in May 2024 with his M.Ed. in curriculum & instruction with an emphasis in instructiona...
ow.ly
November 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
uvaehd.bsky.social
Why do social and emotional learning skills decline in middle school, just when they’re needed the most?

In a new blog post, UVA EHD's Sara Rimm-Kaufman dives into the “middle school SEL dip” and what teachers can do to support students and academic success:
ow.ly/muTv50Xn88N
The SEL Paradox in Middle School: What Every Educator Needs to Know
Social and emotional learning (SEL) skills often dip during the middle school years despite being so crucial. Here's what educators can do to bridge the gap.
education.virginia.edu
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM