UW-Madison Dept. of Educational Psychology

🎓 Congratulations to our Educational Psychology graduates! 🎉

We are proud of all you've accomplished and excited to see what's next. On, Wisconsin! ❤️🤍

Celebrating outstanding faculty achievements in the Department of Educational Psychology! 🎉

Congratulations to Shamya Karumbaiah, recipient of a Vilas Early-Career Investigator Award; David Kaplan, recipient of a Renewed Research Stay Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; Icy Zhang, recipient of a 2026 NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship; and Andy Garbacz, recipient of the 2026 APA Division 16 Tom Oakland Mid-Career Scholarship Award.

These prestigious honors recognize impactful research, scholarship, and leadership!

Congrats to Tai Sun Jeong on earning First Place in the 2026 Graduate Student eBoard Competition at the NCME Annual Meeting! 🎉

His project, “Validating a Behavioral Measure of Test-taking Engagement: A Latent Regression Approach,” stood out among top graduate researchers nationwide.

Tai Sun is a Ph.D. student in the Quantitative Methods area, focusing on test security and process data analytics.

Join us in celebrating this outstanding achievement!

Read more here: https://ncme.org/2026-graduate-student-eboard-competition-winners/

Take charge of your summer 🌟

Student Assessment Services (SAS) is offering a 9-week small group designed to support UW-Madison students with ADHD or ADHD-related challenges. Learn practical strategies to improve focus, organization, and self-advocacy in a supportive environment.

📅 Tuesdays, May 19–July 21 (no group June 30)
⏰ 10:00–11:15 AM
📍 Educational Sciences Building (3rd Floor)
💲 $180 (payment plans available)
✔️ No formal ADHD diagnosis required

Register here: https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8G2qjZvWhqtxfWC

We’re proud to share that UW–Madison’s Department of Educational Psychology has once again been ranked No. 1 by U.S. News in 2026, marking the ninth time since 2014 our program has earned the top spot.

As Jennifer Asmus, professor and chair of the department, notes, “This achievement recognizes our commitment to enhance the understanding of human behavior, learning, and mental health, and responsible use of AI in the classroom…” She adds that the ranking “reflects decades of shared commitment by our faculty to engage in rigorous, innovative, and impactful scholarship, mentorship, and teaching.”

This milestone reflects the collective impact of our faculty, students, staff, and alumni, whose dedication continues to drive meaningful research and learning.

Huge congrats to School Psych PhD student, Ishan Vengurlekar!

Congratulations to our Graduate Student Peer Mentor Award winners! This year’s awardees were selected for a wide range of mentorship, including as leading mentors in their labs, departments, and academic communities. https://grad.wisc.edu/diversity/peer-mentor-awards/

Join us in congratulating Ishan Vengurlekar on receiving a Graduate Student Peer Mentor Award! 🎉

The Graduate Student Peer Mentor Awards recognize graduate students who demonstrate exceptional mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, both on and off campus.

Ishan is a School Psychology doctoral candidate whose work focuses on early intervention for youth with elevated mental health challenges. He is passionate about improving access to school-based mental health supports and is deeply committed to mentoring students through thoughtful, individualized guidance.

Congratulations, Ishan!

Congratulations to Ashley Reece on receiving the 2025-26 Advanced Achievement in Teaching Award! 🎉

Ashley, a PhD candidate in the Human Development area, is recognized for her exceptional teaching across courses spanning infancy through adolescence. Her commitment to fostering independent learning and critical thinking, along with her passion for child development, makes a lasting impact on her students.

We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved honor!

Congratulations to Kristy Kelly on receiving the Ann Wallace Academic Staff Distinguished Achievement Award!

This recognition honors her exceptional leadership as director of clinical training and co-chair of our School Psychology program, her expansion of clinic services, and her dedication to high-quality graduate training. Her efforts are helping prepare the next generation of school psychologists at a time they are greatly needed. 🎉

Read more here: https://education.wisc.edu/about/faculty-staff-awards/2026-faculty-and-staff-award-winners/ -wallace-staff-2

The Educational Psychology department is proud to recognize Kaycie Barron, a current PhD student in the Learning Sciences area, as the recipient of the 2026 Michael Vincent O’Shea and Harriet Frisbie Eastabrooks O’Shea Fellowship.

The O’Shea Fellowship is awarded to an Educational Psychology student who shows promise in adolescent or educational psychology, the education of children or adolescents, or the psychotherapy or guidance of children or adolescents.

Read more about Kaycie's research here: https://edpsych.education.wisc.edu/kaycie-barron-awarded-oshea-fellowship/