UVA School of Education & Human Development

06/16/2026

A $43.4 million gift to the UVA School of Education and Human Development will position UVA to join local partners in bringing to fruition an early childhood learning center in Charlottesville.

The gift from UVA alumni Kathleen and David LaCross is the largest in the Education School's history, and will bolster existing plans for a center where Charlottesville children will get instructional and developmental care while UVA students get practical career preparation and experience.

Read more from CBS19 News: Charlottesville News First:

A multi-million-dollar gift from Kathy and David LaCross will help support an early childhood learning center in Charlottesville that will offer more access to area children and give UVA students a chance to gain experience.

06/15/2026

Congratulations to UVA School of Education and Human Development faculty members Jason Allen and Michaela DuBay, who have each earned funding through the competitive 4-VA Collaborative Research Grant program.

Allen, a cardiovascular exercise physiologist, will continue his research examining the relationship between nitric oxide and menopause. DuBay, a speech-language pathologist whose work focuses on autism spectrum disorders, received funding for a project aimed at supporting Spanish-speaking families in rural Virginia.

Their projects highlight the impact of collaborative research in addressing important health and community needs across the Commonwealth.

Read more in the comments.

06/12/2026

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Naila A. Smith, who has been awarded one of two Spring 2025 Large Seed Grants from UVA's Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment Grand Challenge initiative.

The $100,000 grant will support research examining the intersection of social media, identity, and well-being among U.S. immigrant-origin emerging adults.

Assistant Professor Naila A. Smith will lead a study on the ways social media impacts the identity development of first- and second-generation immigrant-origin emerging adults, ages 18-25.

06/11/2026

Special education teachers spend significant time completing required documentation and paperwork.

New research from UVA EHD's Danielle Waterfield and colleague Olivia Coleman suggests that artificial intelligence may help ease that workload. Their study found that, when used appropriately, AI can help special education teachers create IEPs that are equal or higher in quality than those produced without AI assistance.

Their work is highlighted in a recent NPR story examining how educators are using AI to support special education services.

Read more:

A fast-growing number of special educators nationwide are using AI to create customized education plans. Despite the risks, some research shows it could improve the quality of teachers' work.

06/10/2026

Teens often know exactly what they need to thrive. Are adults listening?

In a recent op-ed for The Virginian-Pilot, Shereen El Mallah, research assistant professor and faculty affiliate at Youth-Nex, shares three ways parents can better support their teens’ development and well-being.

With summer approaching and schedules becoming less structured, the season offers a chance to rethink routines and create opportunities for meaningful growth and connection.

Read more:

Shereen El Mallah, research assistant professor and faculty affiliate at Youth-Nex, shares three ways parents can help meet their teens' needs, in this commentary originally published in The Virginian-Pilot.

06/09/2026

UVA has the highest percentage of new inventors who are women of any university in the country, according to a recent study.

UVA EHD's Kim Wilkens said one of the things she finds most powerful about the University’s approach to entrepreneurship is the connection between research, education, and community. Wilkens is the founder of Tech-Girls, a founding board member of Charlottesville Women in Tech, and co-founder of Roversa Robotics.

“When students, especially women, see pathways from learning to real-world impact, whether through invention, entrepreneurship, or community partnerships, it changes how they see themselves and what’s possible,” she said.

Read more from University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group in the comments!

06/09/2026

The University of Virginia announced Friday a $43.4 million gift to the UVA School of Education & Human Development, an investment that positions UVA to join local partners in bringing to fruition an early childhood learning center in Charlottesville.

The gift from UVA alumni Kathleen and David LaCross is the largest in the Education School’s history. https://uvatoday.me/4unR9cG

06/08/2026

Mental health experts are reporting a surge in 'lunch shaming,' where students take and share unflattering photos of peers eating.

According to research from UVA EHD's Catherine Bradshaw, 14% of elementary and 18% of middle and high school students reported cafeteria bullying in the past month. School cafeterias are especially vulnerable to bullying because they typically have less adult supervision than classrooms, she shared with The Wall Street Journal.

"Catching people doing embarrassing things has been going on for some time, and this is the more recent iteration of that," she said.

Read more:

Snapping photos of students eating leads to embarrassment and isolation.

06/05/2026

We're thrilled to announce a $43.4 million gift to the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development, an investment that positions UVA to join local partners in bringing to fruition an early childhood learning center in Charlottesville.

“Kathy and David LaCross have made an extraordinary investment in quality early childhood education in Charlottesville,” Dean Stephanie Rowley said. “We are deeply grateful for their generosity and for our community partners whose ideas, expertise and leadership have shaped this vision from the very beginning.”

Read more at the link in the comments.

06/04/2026

When twin sisters Sydney Hopkins and Morgan Cockram left Patrick Springs, Virginia, for college, they always imagined returning home one day.

Today, they are working side by side in the same schools they once attended to support children with autism, developmental disabilities, speech and language impairments, and other complex needs — helping fill a critical gap in specialized care in rural Southwest Virginia.

Their path was strengthened through Blue Ridge LEND, a collaboration between the University of Virginia, Mary Baldwin University, and other key partners across the region, that prepares professionals to work across disciplines and improve outcomes for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

“It really helped me learn that you can’t do this on your own,” Cockram said. “You have to rely on other professionals, and they might bring something to the table that you never would have thought about on your own. I feel like that’s really helped me in my career now to be able to successfully communicate and collaborate with all those people to see what’s best for our students."

Read their story at the link in the comments!

Patrick County Public Schools