Research

Amanda Nickerson, director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, and professor from the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, and Dan Albertson, associate professor from the Department of Library and Information Studies, have been awarded $175,000 from the New York State (NYS) Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) for their collaborative research project, “Multimedia and Peer-to-Peer Prevention Support.”

According to a nationwide 2017 Gallup poll, investments in security measures by schools and school districts increase sharply every time a major violent event occurs. “Despite these high costs, research on the contribution of security practices to school and student safety, misbehavior, discipline and academic performance is sorely lacking, and sometimes even paints a negative picture,” said Jeremy Finn,  SUNY Distinguished Professor from the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology.

Worldwide, 30 million people practice yoga and half of them say they started yoga because of recommendations from a physician or therapist. Practicing yoga can lead to an improved quality of life, including a lower heart rate, relief from anxiety, stress, depression and insomnia, and overall physical health, strength and flexibility.

The belief that parents can shape positive behavior and experiences in their children, including those with behavioral challenges such as ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), is well known. Traditional positive parenting programs have typically been used for mothers, creating a need for a program that would lend itself more to fathers.

Gregory Fabiano, professor from the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, has been working in collaboration with colleagues at Florida International University to study the best sequence of interventions for children with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) in schools. A recent study illustrated that positive behavioral supports used by parents and teachers first was superior to using medication first.

The Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention was a co-sponsor of UB’s 15th annual Safe Schools Initiative Seminar held March 20 on the North Campus. The center is directed by Amanda Nickerson, professor from the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology and has become a valuable resource in local and national discussions on bullying, school violence and safety issues for children. One of the goals of the seminar, “Collaborating to Address Safety and Mental Health Issues, and to Recover from Crisis,” was to help participants who experience school-based tragedies.

Myles Faith, professor from the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology is partnering with Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies in Buffalo to address weight bullying issues among adolescents and develop resources to provide prevention and/or coping strategies. The collaboration is part of the UB Graduate School of Education Faculty in Residence Program.

Melinda Lemke, assistant professor from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, is the primary investigator on a study that will examine how school staff leverage policy and/or programming supports to address the social and emotional well-being of displaced students in Western New York schools. Amanda Nickerson, professor from the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, is the study co-investigator. The collaboration is part of the UB Graduate School of Education Faculty in Residence Program and is supported through the Community for Global Health Equity.