Current Graduate Students
Heba Zakaryia Abdelnaby
3rd Year Doctoral Student- Special Education
I am a Fulbright alumna and a graduate student, majoring in special education, learning disabilities at the University of Missouri. Before joining Mizzou, I've previously served as an English language teacher at schools of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) and also as a content developer at UNRWA TV in Gaza, Palestine.This year I’ll be working as a Graduate Research assistant for Dr. Matt Burns, my academic advisor. Additionally, I've been serving as a graduate research assistant at Linking Science and Literacy for All Learners science education program at Mizzou. I'm interested in improving education for learners with special needs in elementary and middle school levels in the areas of literacy, science and math with special focus to English language learners ELL and students with diverse backgrounds.
3rd Year Doctoral Student- Special Education
I am a Fulbright alumna and a graduate student, majoring in special education, learning disabilities at the University of Missouri. Before joining Mizzou, I've previously served as an English language teacher at schools of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) and also as a content developer at UNRWA TV in Gaza, Palestine.This year I’ll be working as a Graduate Research assistant for Dr. Matt Burns, my academic advisor. Additionally, I've been serving as a graduate research assistant at Linking Science and Literacy for All Learners science education program at Mizzou. I'm interested in improving education for learners with special needs in elementary and middle school levels in the areas of literacy, science and math with special focus to English language learners ELL and students with diverse backgrounds.
Katie Graves
3rd Year Doctoral Student-Special Education
I am from St. Louis, MO and received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education and Masters in Special Education with an emphasis in Behavior Disorders at University of Missouri-Columbia. I am a third-year doctoral student in the Special Education- Behavior Disorders program. Currently, I serve as a Research Assistant for Dr. Matthew Burns, as well as a Research Assistant for Dr. Chad Rose. In addition, to these roles, I serve as the treasurer for the Special Education Graduate Student Association. My research interests include policy regarding the juvenile justice system and specifically, seclusion and restraint.
Jonie Welland
2nd Year Educational Specialist Student-School Psychology
I am from Olathe, KS and received my Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and Bachelor of Science degree in health science from Truman State University. I currently serve as a Research Assistant for Dr. Matthew Burns and a Site Coordinator at A Way With Words and Numbers. My research interests include evaluating academic interventions for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, supporting teacher implementation of evidenced-based interventions, and implementing trauma-informed practices in schools.
2nd Year Educational Specialist Student-School Psychology
I am from Olathe, KS and received my Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and Bachelor of Science degree in health science from Truman State University. I currently serve as a Research Assistant for Dr. Matthew Burns and a Site Coordinator at A Way With Words and Numbers. My research interests include evaluating academic interventions for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, supporting teacher implementation of evidenced-based interventions, and implementing trauma-informed practices in schools.
Destinee Boddie
2nd Year Doctoral Student-School Psychology
I am a second-year PhD student in the School Psychology program at the University of Missouri. I received my undergraduate degree in Educational Studies and Psychological & Brain Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis. This year I will be working as a Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Erica Lembke. I am also completing clinical training with the Missouri LEND TIPS for Kids program to advance my knowledge and skills working with families of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. My research interests include family-school partnerships, caregiver/family involvement in problem-solving teams, and assessment and interventions tailored to the needs of multiply minoritized youth.
2nd Year Doctoral Student-School Psychology
I am a second-year PhD student in the School Psychology program at the University of Missouri. I received my undergraduate degree in Educational Studies and Psychological & Brain Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis. This year I will be working as a Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Erica Lembke. I am also completing clinical training with the Missouri LEND TIPS for Kids program to advance my knowledge and skills working with families of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. My research interests include family-school partnerships, caregiver/family involvement in problem-solving teams, and assessment and interventions tailored to the needs of multiply minoritized youth.
Audrey Glenn
2nd Year Doctoral Student-School Psychology
I am from Los Angeles, CA and received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University - Channel Islands. This year I am working as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Missouri Prevention Science Institute and will be joining Dr. Matthew Burns' research team. My research interests include mental health supports for Latinx and Indigenous youth in K-12 schools, family-school partnerships, early identification of internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and increasing academic success for marginalized youth.
2nd Year Doctoral Student-School Psychology
I am from Los Angeles, CA and received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University - Channel Islands. This year I am working as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Missouri Prevention Science Institute and will be joining Dr. Matthew Burns' research team. My research interests include mental health supports for Latinx and Indigenous youth in K-12 schools, family-school partnerships, early identification of internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and increasing academic success for marginalized youth.
Emily Johns, M.Ed.
1st Year Doctoral Student-Special Education
I am originally from Indiana. I graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Biology. I received my Master of Education in School Psychology from University of Missouri in 2022. I am currently a doctoral student within the College of Education & Human Development. I am graciously part of the leadership grant, Leaders Investigating Mathematics Evidence (LIME). I am interested in exploring and developing evidence-based mathematics interventions for students with or at risk for mathematics difficulties.
1st Year Doctoral Student-Special Education
I am originally from Indiana. I graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Biology. I received my Master of Education in School Psychology from University of Missouri in 2022. I am currently a doctoral student within the College of Education & Human Development. I am graciously part of the leadership grant, Leaders Investigating Mathematics Evidence (LIME). I am interested in exploring and developing evidence-based mathematics interventions for students with or at risk for mathematics difficulties.
Caitlyn Chapple
Junior Year Undergraduate - Elementary Education
I am from Plainfield, Illinois and am currently a junior at the University of Missouri. I am majoring in Elementary Education with minors in Psychology and Human Development and Family Sciences. I am part of the Education Honors program through the College of Education and Human Development. Through this program I get the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Matthew Burns and his team. I aspire to be a reading specialist and am interested in furthering my knowledge of reading interventions.
Junior Year Undergraduate - Elementary Education
I am from Plainfield, Illinois and am currently a junior at the University of Missouri. I am majoring in Elementary Education with minors in Psychology and Human Development and Family Sciences. I am part of the Education Honors program through the College of Education and Human Development. Through this program I get the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Matthew Burns and his team. I aspire to be a reading specialist and am interested in furthering my knowledge of reading interventions.