UVA School of Education & Human Development

09/18/2026

How can exercise and nitric oxide support women's cardiovascular health after menopause?

On Season 3, Episode 1 of the EdLab podcast, University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development kinesiology professor and vascular physiologist Jason Allen discusses his ongoing research on postmenopausal heart health.

Listen in here: https://ow.ly/SWc250ZPj0b

09/17/2026

Please join us in welcoming six new faculty members to the UVA School of Education and Human Development for the 2026–27 academic year!

From advancing early childhood education and stroke rehabilitation to studying cardiovascular health, trauma recovery, ACL injury prevention, and speech motor control, these scholars bring world-class clinical, research, and teaching expertise to our community.

Meet:
🔷 Alisha Demchak | Assistant Professor of Education, Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education

🔶 Allison Ellington | Professor of Education, Department of Kinesiology

🔷 Brian Irving | Professor of Education, Department of Kinesiology

🔶 Margaret Poandl | Assistant Professor of Education, Department of Human Services

🔷 Jeffrey Taylor | Professor of Education, Department of Kinesiology

🔶 Jason Whitfield | Professor of Education, Department of Human Services

Learn more about their expertise and work on Grounds: https://ow.ly/9qey50ZOU0Q

09/16/2026

According to new research, kindergarten math and reading scores are good predictors of third grade achievement.

Despite persistent challenges for struggling learners, Associate Professor Colby Hall, who studies effective literacy instruction for students with reading difficulties, points out that early identification can change the trajectory.

"The earlier that students are identified as being off track for literacy, the larger the window for intervening," she said.

Learn more about the study and what it means for educators and early childhood literacy in Education Week:

But their academic trajectories aren't set in stone, and early intervention is key, researchers say.

09/16/2026

Drawn from across schools and disciplines, these fellows are united by a shared focus on democracy’s most pressing questions.

09/15/2026

Working with youth is incredibly rewarding, but it can also feel isolating when you're the only one in your organization.

That's why Youth-Nex is creating a welcoming space for youth-serving professionals to connect, brainstorm, and support one another through monthly drop-in working group meetings.

The kickoff meeting takes place on September 17 at 1:00 PM. Interested in joining? Reach out to [email protected] for details!

Read more about the initiative here:

For youth-serving professionals looking to grow professionally, finding time to attend career development programs can be difficult.

09/14/2026

For many families of adults with developmental disabilities, options for structured programming drop off significantly after age 22.

Out at the Autism Sanctuary in Albemarle County, members of the UVA community, including graduates, students, and faculty at the School of Education and Human Development, are helping fill that gap. Leading the program are UVA EHD graduates Olivia Bruno ('23) and Izzy Kueser ('25), along with advisory leadership from Associate Professor Rose Nevill. Most of the sanctuary staff, interns and volunteers come from the Education School.

Through farm-based therapeutic activities, skill-building, and personalized care, the sanctuary provides a welcoming space for adults with autism while giving UVA students hands-on career experience.

Photos by Matt Riley, UVA University Communications

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/VRgj50ZNuVF

09/12/2026

A new analysis suggests that a $1.68 billion annual investment could help close Virginia’s childcare access gap for working families.

The study found that roughly 60% of eligible families still lack access to subsidized childcare, while staffing shortages continue to limit the number of families childcare centers can serve.

Kate Miller-Bains, a research scientist with UVA’s Early Education through Partnerships Team, discusses how low compensation and high teacher turnover are contributing to the challenge and what increased investment could mean for families across Virginia.

🔗Read the full story from WVIR 29News:

New analysis commissioned by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation suggests that a $1.68 billion annual investment could help close the childcare access gap for working families across the state.

09/10/2026

What do you think: How could teaching be a more family-friendly career?

With a new grant from the Spencer Foundation, UVA School of Education and Human Development Associate Professor Laura Rogers is leading a research project to explore how having a child impacts teacher retention and career advancement.

The research team will map benefits across 1,300 school districts to examine if family-friendly policies are a key driver in keeping educators in the classroom.

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/7hOA50ZMhV5

09/09/2026

How should AI be used in the classroom?

Danielle Waterfield, a research scientist with UVA’s School of Education and Human Development, spoke with NBC29 News about how educators are developing guidelines for AI use and why keeping a “human in the loop” is essential.

"If you're using ChatGPT or CoPilot or Gemini to make a worksheet that you're going to use with your students, you as the teacher are still the person who is looking at that worksheet, reviewing it, making sure it's accurate, and then being able to turn around and use it in your practice," she said.

🔗More from CBS19 News: Charlottesville News First:

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- School is back in session, and both teachers and students are navigating how they use artificial intelligence in the classroom.

09/08/2026

As school gets underway, students are gearing up for their first graded assignments of the year. But how much do grades actually motivate learning?

“Grades are just one aspect of creating a high-quality teaching and learning context that hopefully aims to help students develop key knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to live happy, healthy, and productive lives,” says UVA EHD motivation researcher Chris Hulleman, director of the Motivate Lab.

👉 Read the full Q&A here: