My professional interests :

• Exploration of literature written for an audience of children and adolescents, particularly what it has to offer readers based on interest, understanding of self and others, as well as providing new windows to view the world; 
• How establishing and maintaining developmentally appropriate early childhood learning environments in the primary grades is responsive to the needs of young children and how they learn; 
• Exploring and creating international exchange possibilities for UNL students to enhance understanding of other cultures.  These interests are independent of one another while united in global perspective of understanding individual and cultural needs. 

FUNDED PROJECTS:

2011  Principal Investigator,  INTERNATIONAL SEED GRANT INITIATIVE – $5,000, Advancing the Partnership with Escuela Normal Miguel F. Martinez: Hosting Visits by Elementary Student Teachers

2010  Principal Investigator,  INTERNATIONAL SEED GRANT INITIATIVE – $6,000, Global Considerations: Teacher Educator Immersion Experience in the Schools, Community and Culture of Mexico

2010  Participant, INTERNATIONAL SEED GRANT INITIATIVE – $6,000, Advancing Higher Education Partnerships in Mexico

2007-2008  Secondary Investigator,  UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA – INITIATIVE FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE – $13,440, Elementary Teacher Education Program Assessment Study:  Assessing the Short and Long Term Effects of an Elementary Teacher Education Program

2004-2005  Principal Investigator,  NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – TITLE I SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANT – $25,000, Wazhinga Ti Zhinga Child Care Center, Walthill Schools, Omaha Reservation, Nebraska:  Examining Literacy Acquisition in Relationship to Language Experiences & Environment

FUNDED PROJECTS TO WORK WITH STUDENTS:

2010–2011  FACULTY MENTOR – UCARE Funding, Research with Brandon Tovado – Determining International Interests of CEHS Education Majors about Teaching & Service Learning Opportunities

2010–2011  FACULTY MENTOR – UCARE Funding, Research with Shuihui Pan – Determining International Interests of CEHS Non-Education Majors about Teaching & Service Learning Opportunities

2008–2009  FACULTY MENTOR – UCARE Funding, Research with Brenna Poppe and Mary-Kate Peters – The Affect of Expository Text Structures in Children’s Literature on Comprehension and Writing of 3rd Grade Students

2007–2008  FACULTY MENTOR – UCARE Funding, Research with Brenna Poppe and Mary-Kate Peters – The Relationship between Comprehension and Expository Text Structures of Children’s Literature

2004–2005  FACULTY MENTOR – UCARE Funding, Research with Kim Wood & Laura Helgenberger – An Investigation of Literature as Expository Text at the 1-2 Grade Level 

2003–2004  FACULTY MENTOR – UCARE Funding, Research with Maria Ostdiek – The Affect of Prior Experiences on the Success of Kindergarten Students