EHS Quick Notes

Dillon publishes two manuscripts on school interventions and AI assessment

Cara Dillon, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, had two manuscripts published this summer.

The first, The PAX Good Behavior Game: A Scoping Review of Implementation and Dissemination Strategies and Outcomes to Inform Expansion Efforts in Educational Contexts, appears in School Mental Health. Co-authored with colleagues, the review synthesized findings from 47 sources, identifying common strategies and outcomes for implementing and expanding school-based interventions.

The second, Assessing the interrater reliability of artificial intelligence transcript analysis for use in consultation training, was published in the Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation. This study compared AI tools with a clinical supervisor in analyzing consultation role-play transcripts and found promising potential for AI to enhance training efficiency.

• Iwai, Y., Campbell, C., Boddapati, S., Rosencrans, M., Dillon, C., Evans, S., Thomas, G., & Owens, J.S., (2025). The PAX Good Behavior Game: A Scoping Review of Implementation and Dissemination Strategies and Outcomes to Inform Expansion Efforts in Educational Contexts. School Mental Health.
• Dillon, C., Evans, S., Owens, J.S. (2025). Assessing the interrater reliability of artificial intelligence transcript analysis for use in consultation training. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 1–16.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this article.)

August 20, 2025

Sarah Woodruff receives funding from the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital

Sarah Woodruff, director of the Discovery Center for Evaluation, Research, and Professional Development, received $33,121 from the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, pass-through funds from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, for the project entitled "Evaluation of Expanding and Sustaining PAX in Ohio Schools," of which $25,486 is designated to the Discovery Center.

August 01, 2025

Yue Li receives funding from Youngstown State University

Yue Li, associate director of the Discovery Center for Evaluation, Research, and Professional Development, received $41,944 from Youngstown State University, with pass-through from the National Science Foundation, for the project entitled "Evaluation of CS for All: RPP Involve Students with ASD in Computing."

August 01, 2025

Gregory contributes to four new publications on public health, education, and health disparities

Kayleigh Gregory, assistant professor in the Department of Family Science and Social Work, is co-author of four recent publications spanning topics in public health, healthcare equity, and social work education.

Merianos, A. L., Hill, M. J., Gregory, K. A., Toraman Turk, S., Smith, M. L., & Mahabee-Gittens, E. M. (in press). Adverse childhood experiences and tobacco smoke exposure among U.S. school-aged children. Child Protection and Practice.
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/p...

Gregory, K. A., Hill, J. M., Dzimbiri, M., & Merianos, A. L., (2025). Exploring the Perspectives of Healthcare Professionals on the Most Significant Health Disparities Observed in Perinatal Settings: A Qualitative Study. Midwifery. (Impact Factor: 2.86; H-index: 86; Quartile: Q1).
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/p...

Doherty, E. A., Gregory, K. A., Lu, Y., Dobbs, P. D., (2025). E-cigarette flavor and device preferences among pregnant women who smoke: A Latent Class Analysis. Tobacco Prevention and Cessation, 11, 32. doi.org/10.18332/tpc/204745
Link: doi.org/10.18332/tpc/204745

Gregory, K. A., Kimiecik, C., Dzimbiri, M., Stefanik, K., & Roberts, A. (In Press). Peer Mentorship in Social Work Higher Education: Experiences of Undergraduate and Graduate Students. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this article.)

July 15, 2025

Reeves-Doyle co-authors study on well-being and success of international women of color in college

Brandy Reeves-Doyle, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health, is a co-author of an upcoming publication in The Journal of American College Health. The article, Determinants of physical health, mental health, and academic success of international women of color in college, examines the factors that influence student well-being and academic outcomes in this underrepresented group.

Sanyaolu, O., Nabors, L., King, K., Reeves-Doyle, B., & Adabla, S. (in press). "Determinants of physical health, mental health, and academic success of international women of color in college". The Journal of American College Health.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this article.)

July 02, 2025

Beissel co-edits book on 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Adam Beissel, associate professor in the Department of Sport Leadership and Management, has co-edited a new book, Critical Perspectives on the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Events, Issues, Controversies (Routledge), releasing July 1. The collection features 20 chapters by 43 authors from 11 countries and six continents, offering international insights into the major themes surrounding the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand. This is the second book on the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup from the editorial team of Beissel, Julie Brice, Andy Grainger, and Verity Postlethwaite.

June 26, 2025

Wasburn-Moses publishes new text on special education practice

Leah Wasburn-Moses, professor of Educational Psychology, has published a new book, Special Education in Practice: A Concise Introduction (Routledge). The six-chapter text introduces foundational topics in special education and focuses on evidence-based teaching strategies, inclusive classroom practices, and supports for at-risk students. The final chapter aligns with the 22 High Leverage Practices recognized in the field, making it a practical resource for teacher candidates in practice-based preparation programs.

June 26, 2025

Batchelor and Rushek awarded CTE Ignite grant for AI project

Katherine Batchelor, Ph.D, professor, and Kelli Rushek, Ph.D, assistant professor, in the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry, received the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Ignite grant for their proposal, Preservice teachers build immersive worlds using AI-generated tools for the high school English curriculum. The project is scheduled for implementation in Fall 2025.

June 26, 2025

Miami students contribute to research on math interventions with faculty support

Students Julianne Locke and Alyssa Fesenmyer from the school psychology program contributed to a publication on fraction learning interventions for sixth graders with math difficulties. They completed the intervention and helped write portions of the article during a demanding period of their program and internship. The research was co-authored with Sarah Watt, associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology. The article appears in Learning Disabilities Research & Practice.

Watt, S. J., Locke, J., & Fesenmyer, A. (2025). Developing understanding of fraction magnitude among sixth graders with math difficulties. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this article.)

June 10, 2025

Lydia Ballenger named Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Congratulations to Lydia Ballenger, Director of the Dietetic Internship in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health, on being designated a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (FAND). FAND status is awarded to Academy members who demonstrate leadership, integrity, and meaningful contributions to both the profession and their communities.

June 02, 2025

Sabnis and McAllister co-author article in NASP's Communiqué

EDP Associate Professor Sujay Sabnis and second-year school psychology graduate student PJ McAllister were co-authors on an article published in Communiqué, the official magazine of the National Association of School Psychologists.

The article, titled “Supporting Trans and Nonbinary Students and Staff,” explores key terminology, provides historical context, outlines current policy, and offers practical strategies for supporting trans and nonbinary individuals in school settings.

Sabnis, S., Coco, M., & McAllister, P. J. (2025). Supporting trans and nonbinary students and staff. Communiqué, 53(6). National Association of School Psychologists.

May 19, 2025

Schultz receives funds for TEACh Cincinnati

Brian Schultz, associate dean for external relations and partnerships in the College of Education, Health, and Society, received $32,000 from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation for the project entitled "TEACh Cincinnati Summer Funding."

May 13, 2025

Li receives funds from Lifetown Columbus

Yue Li, associate director of the Discovery Center for Evaluation, Research, and Professional Development, received $48,697 from Lifetown Columbus for the project entitled "Evaluation of Stop to Live."

May 13, 2025

Dillon receives national research award to explore AI use in schools

Cara Dillon, assistant professor of school psychology in Miami’s Department of Educational Psychology, has received a $13,217 Early Career Research Award from the Society for the Study of School Psychology. Her project, “Piloting Artificial Intelligence as an Intervention Fidelity Measurement Tool,” will explore how school psychologists and administrators perceive and use AI to collect intervention fidelity data in schools.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this writeup)

May 08, 2025

Smith co-authors study on effects of simulated hyper-gravity on walking biomechanics

Dean Smith, clinical professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health at Miami University, co-authored a new publication in Biomechanics titled “Effects of Simulated Hyper-Gravity on Lower Limb Kinematics and Electromyography During Walking.” The study used a novel harness system to simulate increased gravitational load without added external mass, isolating the effects on gait kinematics and electromyography across varying load levels.

Malaya, Christopher A., Pranav J. Parikh, Dean L. Smith, and Charles S. Layne. 2025. "Effects of Simulated Hyper-Gravity on Lower Limb Kinematics and Electromyography During Walking" Biomechanics 5, no. 2: 31.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this article.)

May 05, 2025

Misco and Gross publish on teaching birthright citizenship

Tom Misco, professor of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry, and graduate student Erik Gross co-authored an article in Social Studies Research and Practice. Their piece, “Teaching about birthright citizenship and ex/inclusion within the United States,” explores how social studies educators can use the topic of birthright citizenship to frame enduring questions of civic identity and inclusion in the U.S. curriculum. The article includes instructional strategies for engaging students in historical and contemporary debates.

Gross, E. & Misco, T. (2025). Teaching about birthright citizenship and ex/inclusion within the United States. Social Studies Research and Practice.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this article.)

May 05, 2025

Misco co-authors article on ToponomiCrit theory for renaming places

Tom Misco, professor of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry, co-authored a new article in Theory & Research in Social Education with Nathaniel Bryan and Dustin Hornbeck. The article, “ToponomiCrit: A theory for decolonization and dewhitesupremacization,” introduces a framework that draws on Critical Race Theory and spatial analysis to challenge place names rooted in White supremacy. The authors offer a decision-making heuristic to guide renaming efforts in education and civic spaces.

Misco, T., Bryan, N., & Hornbeck, D. (2025). ToponomiCrit: A theory for decolonization and dewhitesupremacization. Theory & Research in Social Education, 1–19.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this article.)

May 05, 2025

Miami faculty awarded NIH grant to study cardiovascular recovery after inactivity

Kevin Ballard, associate professor of kinesiology, nutrition, and health at Miami University, will lead a new $422,894 research grant funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Faculty colleagues Kyle Timmerman, associate professor and interim department chair, and Paul Reidy, assistant professor, will join Ballard on the project, which examines how cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity affect recovery of glucose and vascular function following periods of physical inactivity. Reidy played a key role in shaping the proposal.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted in writing this article.)

April 30, 2025

Kimieciks present at national play conference

Jay Kimiecik, associate professor of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health, and Carlyn Kimiecik, assistant professor of Family Science and Social Work, presented at the 2025 National Conference on the Value of Play in Bloomington, Indiana. Their session, Up the river with a playful paddle: Creating psychological freedom and wellbeing across the lifespan, explored the power of play to support wellness at every stage of life. They were joined by undergraduate students Izzy Storey (KNH) and Katie Dunn (FSW).

April 21, 2025

Dean Smith co-authors chiropractic care study

Dean Smith, clinical professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health at Miami University, co-authored a new article in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic titled “Chiropractic Care and Self-Reported Changes in Analgesic and Musculoskeletal Medication Use: A Cross-Sectional Survey.” The study examines how chiropractic care may influence patients’ use of pain and musculoskeletal medications.

Smith DL, Spaulding B, Ensminger P, McMichael A, Malaya CA, Smith JP. Chiropractic Care and Self-Reported Changes in Analgesic and Musculoskeletal Medication Use: A Cross-Sectional Survey. J Contemporary Chiropractic 2025; 8(1):279-289.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this article.)

January 01, 2025

Reidy project receives funding

Paul Reidy, assistant professor of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health, received $410,071 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases for the project "Influence of early life physical inactivity during a key period of postnatal development on adult muscle quality—from matrix to mortality."

December 03, 2024

EHS trio receives funding

Sherrill Sellers, associate dean, Amity Noltemeyer, dean, and Brian Schultz, associate dean, of the College of Education, Health and Society, received $163,675 from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce for the project entitled "Empower VetEd: Supporting Military in Miami University Educator Prep Programs."

December 03, 2024

TCE trio publishes article

Racheal Banda, assistant professor; Ganiva Reyes, associate professor; and Kathy Batchelor, Miami University John Heckert Professor of the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry recently published an article in the Teacher Educator Journal. The article, “A path forward: A critical race mixed methods study of social justice teacher education,” measures the impact of justice-oriented curriculum on pre-service teachers’ social justice dispositions and commitments to action in their future classrooms.

November 22, 2024

Reyes elected chair

Ganiva Reyes, associate professor in the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry, was elected to serve as chair of the Critical Issues in Curriculum and Cultural Studies SIG of the American Educational Research Association for a two-year term. Reyes also was selected to serve as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Educational Studies journal of the American Educational Studies Association, also a two-year appointment.

November 22, 2024

TEACh Cincinnati receives support

Brian Schultz, associate dean for external relations and partnerships, and Amity Noltemeyer, interim dean of the College of Education, Health, and Society, received $415,000 from the U.S. Department of Education, of which $346,195 is for the project entitled "TEACh Cincinnati: Cincinnati-Based Support." The remaining awarded amount of $68,805 is designated for the evaluation portion of the project. 

November 12, 2024

Gregory presents research at conference in D.C.

Kayleigh Gregory, assistant professor of Family Science and Social Work, recently presented her research on quality maternal health care at the Postpartum Support International Conference held in Washington, D.C.

September 24, 2024

Helsinger co-authors study

Abby Helsinger, senior research associate for the Discovery Center, recently co-authored a study exploring the relationship between digital problem-solving skills and external political efficacy in U.S. adults.

September 24, 2024

Kimiecik earns Cortland alumni honor

Jay Kimiecik, associate professor of Kinesiology, was the recipient of SUNY Cortland’s Distinguished Educator Award, sponsored by the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association. Those selected are the result of a nomination and competitive selection process. The Distinguished Educator Award recognizes Cortland alumni for "rendering outstanding services to the educational field” and “for their success as teachers and mentors.”

August 28, 2024

Poetter authors new book

Thomas Poetter, professor of Educational Leadership, is author of “Curriculum Fragments: A Currere Journey through Life Processes” published in July by Routledge. The book “is a proposal for practicing curriculum inquiry through and participating in life processes,” according to a reviewer.

August 28, 2024