Student Profiles - University of Houston
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Mahnoor Ahmad 

Salam! My name is Mahnoor Ahmad and I am a second-year student in the UH School Psychology doctoral program. Previously, I completed my B.S. in psychology with my minors of human development & family sciences and quantitative social sciences at the UH (go coogs!). I then went on to complete my Masters in Teaching at the University of Houston Clear-Lake. Clearly, I love Houston and UH so much that I came back to pursue my doctorate here. I am very passionate about research and the field of school psychology, particularly in the transition between high school and college. I am advised by both Dr. Brad Smith and Dr. Elizabeth Jelsma. My research interests lie within identity development in the South Asian-American population, and risk and resilience factors that affect their mental health and academic outcomes. I am specifically interested in mindfulness, spirituality/religiosity, substance use, familial closeness, and parental-child relations. Additionally, I am interested in understanding religious and cultural contexts with ADHD. If you have any questions about the program or the work that I do, feel free to email me at mahmad26@cougarnet.uh.edu!

Steve Alsarraf

Hello there! I'm Steve Alsarraf, and I'm currently in my second year of the UH school psychology Ph.D. program. I recently earned my B.S. in psychology from the College of Charleston in December 2022. My background is quite diverse, as I am half British and half Middle Eastern, originally from the quaint English town of Halifax and the vibrant city of Baghdad in Iraq. Despite my international roots, I've spent almost half of my life in the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina.

In my academic journey, I'm fortunate to be working under the guidance of Dr. Jorge Gonzalez as my advisor. My research interests revolve around several exciting areas, including the impact of mindfulness on well-being and positivity, the role of motivational interviewing and self-efficacy in youth development, and strategies for promoting literacy development among dual language learners. I'm also passionate about harnessing bilingualism as a catalyst for positive change within Arabic communities.

Outside of my academic pursuits, I cherish my free time spent with family and friends. I'm an avid traveler who loves exploring new places, and I have a deep appreciation for music, cooking, and staying active through regular workouts. Transitioning to life in Houston has been a fantastic experience, as the big city offers a wide range of delights, from delicious food to wonderful people.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me at salsarra@cougarnet.uh.edu if you'd like to connect or have any questions.

Katherine Avila

Hello! My name is Katherine Avila, and I am a third-year student in our school psychology program. I graduated from Wellesley College in May 2022 with a B.A. in neuroscience and a minor in teaching and learning studies which led me to the field of school psychology.

Last year, I completed my practicum at Hempstead ISD. Currently, I am currently doing my LSSP internship at Spring Branch ISD. My research interests involve children’s socio-emotional and behavioral functioning of Latine students through the lens of parental engagement. I am also passionate about supporting immigrant communities, more specifically the newcomer students. I am from the southeast Houston area, so I have most of my family here and therefore some of my favorite pastimes include hanging out with family and friends. Feel free to reach me at kgavila@uh.edu!

Maggie Bishop

Howdy! My name is Maggie Bishop, I’m a first year in the School Psychology doctoral program. My pronouns are they/them/theirs. I first came to UH in 2019 for my Bachelors of Music. Before joining the School Psych program in 2023, I taught as a middle school orchestra director. I’m from Austin, Texas, but I absolutely adore Houston, and I am so happy that life brought me back to UH. My research interests are still developing, but broadly I am interested in k-12 student mental health, teacher wellbeing and retention, and the identity and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ educators. In my free time I enjoy walks around my neighborhood of Montrose, exploring parks and museums, and quality time with friends and loved ones. I would be happy to chat with any prospective student interested in School Psychology, or graduate school in general. I can be reached at mlbishop@cougarnet.uh.edu. Go Coogs!

Jalen Blocker

My name is Jalen Blocker. I am a third-year student in the School Psychology doctoral program. I received my B.S. in psychology with minor coursework in education from the illustrious Florida State University located in Tallahassee, Florida. I am interested in understanding family-school partnerships. Specifically, I seek to work with Black families to examine the social facilitators and barriers to parental engagement in their child's education and how parental engagement can influence the oral language and reading literacy of their student(s). Understanding the cultural differences between Black families, I also seek to examine the forms that parental engagement can take. Before coming to UH, I was very involved in mentorship and social justice and equity campaigns, pushing for community involvement in local and state politics. Outside of school, I enjoy watching television, making pottery, going on nature walks and trying out new recipes. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. jblocke2@cougarnet.uh.edu

Jeff Carter

Hello! My name is Jeff Carter (He/Him), and I am a second-year student in the UH School Psychology program. I graduated from Butler University in May 2019 with a B.A. in Psychology. I am from a small suburb outside of Chicago, IL. My advisor is Dr. Bradley Smith, and my research interests include investigating the role of school-based mental health programs in supporting students with obsessive compulsive disorder, examining wellbeing in relation to various mental health diagnoses, and investigating the effect of nature and outdoor environments on wellbeing and mental health. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my Labrador, reading fiction books, weightlifting, swimming, and horticulture. Feel free to reach out to me via email at jcarte20@cougarnet.uh.edu!

Nayoung Choi

Hello! My name is Nayougn Choi, and I joined the program in 2017. I received my B.A. in English education from Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Korea, and M.A. in second language studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Before joining this program, I worked as an English language teacher/instructor for five-and-a-half years in Seoul and Honolulu, Hawaii. I am currently completing my advanced practicum at the Texas Children’s Health Plan Center for Children and Women, and I have previously completed two years of school-based/LLSP practicums at Katy ISD and Galena Park ISD. Broadly speaking, I am interested in supporting children’s socio-emotional and behavioral functioning at an individual as well as at a system’s level (e.g., parent management training) and cultural sensitivity/diversity issues in research as well as in clinical practices in psychology. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, exploring local places and watching movies. I can be reached at nchoi3@uh.edu.

Brian Dang

Hello! My name is Brian Dang and I'm a fifth year student. I work with Dr. Smith to evaluate student outcomes for different outdoor summer programs. We are particularly interested in positive youth development and student well-being. In my free time I read enjoy petting my cats, climbing rocks, and playing music. Feel free to email me at bddang2@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Fre’Dasia Daniels

Hi, hello! My name is Fre’Dasia Daniels, and I am a fifth-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program. I graduated from the University of North Texas in May 2020 with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in Spanish and Human Development and Family Science. My advisor is Dr. Keller-Margulis and my research interests include non-academic protective and risk factors that impact educational and health outcomes/disparities for socioeconomic, linguistic, and culturally diverse children and families. I have also developed an interest in the mentoring experiences of Black women and other women from diverse backgrounds and will be exploring this further in my dissertation. In my free time, I enjoy geeking out over all things Doctor Who and Star Trek, powerlifting, pottery, and eating good food! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at fmdaniels@uh.edu!

Brenda Duran

Hello! My name is Brenda Duran, and I am a fourth-year student in the school psychology doctoral program. I graduated from the University of Houston (Go Coogs!) in December 2018 with a B.S. in psychology with minors in human development and family studies and management. My research interests include examining the effects that family and school systems have in the overall mental health and health-related outcomes in pediatric patients with chronic illnesses with a specific focus in Hispanic youth and their families. My hope is to be able to address the stigmatization around mental health care in minoritized communities and its subsequent health disparities. I completed school psychology practicum at Sheldon ISD, LSSP internship at Cypress Fairbanks ISD, and currently I am at Texas Children’s Hospital Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology for my advanced practicum placement. In my free time, I love to go running and indoor cycle, grab coffee at any time of the day, and spend time with family and friends. Please feel free to contact me with any questions at brennduran010@gmail.com!

Adam Garcia

Howdy! My name is Adam Garcia, and I am a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the school psychology program. I graduated from Texas A&M University (Gig ’em, Aggies!) in May 2020 with a B.S. in psychology and minor in business. My advisor is Dr. Bradley Smith, and my research interest broadly centers around religion and spirituality as understudied aspects of diversity especially within clinician training. I previously worked with Dr. Sarah Mire on my candidacy project that examined spiritual causal attributions made by parents of children with autism. I have also previously worked with Dr. Julie Dunsmore and her Social Development Lab on a few studies on emotion coaching and other emotion socialization processes. Clinically, I have completed a practicum with Katy ISD and my LSSP Internship at Hempstead ISD. I also completed a practicum at the Center for Women and Children, a community-based outpatient using an integrated behavioral health model. I am currently at a practicum with Texas Children’s Pediatric Psychology where I help provide consultations and therapy for children with medically complex needs. Outside of school, I play competitive air hockey, though I am admittedly mediocre. If you are interested in school psychology or have any questions, feel free to email me at  acgarc29@cougarnet.uh.edu. Go Coogs!

Amanda Hut

Hello! My name is Amanda Hut, and I am a fifth-year student in the School Psychology Ph.D. program. I graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in December 2019 with a B.S. in psychology. My advisor is Dr. Milena Keller-Margulis, and my research interests include academic writing skills among children and adolescents with ASD. Specifically, I am interested in examining pre-service teachers’ beliefs in their ability to effectively provide writing instruction to children with ASD. I have completed practicum rotations at KIPP Texas-Houston, Hempstead ISD, and Texas Children’s Hospital Autism Program. Currently, I am completing my advanced practicum at the Feeding Disorders program at The Harris Center STARS Clinic. In my spare time, I enjoy trying local coffee shops and spending time with my family and friends. If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact me at  arhut@uh.edu!

J’Necia U. Jackson

Hi. I’m J’Necia U. Jackson, a first-year student in the UH School Psychology doctoral program. I earned my B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a special education emphasis from the University of North Texas in May 2011. After four years of teaching, I became a licensed specialist in school psychology (LSSP) and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). I then spent two years as a school psychologist in a Title 1 district. My research interests have always revolved around early childhood-aged children, teens, and adults of neurodivergent populations and the impact of diagnosed disabilities on their lived experiences and realities. Still, in the realm of special populations, I am interested in exploring undiagnosed Black women due to their cultural upbringing, environment, resilience, and internalized belief of being “strong” in the face of adversity. During my free time I cherish moments with my fur baby Lauren and my family. Please feel free to reach me at jjacks37@cougarnet.uh.edu

Nema Kebbeh 

My name is Nema Kebbeh, and I am a third-year student in the UH School Psychology doctoral program. I graduated with a B.A. from the University of Detroit Mercy in developmental psychology. My advisor is Dr. Bradley Smith. My research interests are broad in child and adolescent development, with a particular emphasis on social-emotional development. This includes studying (a) how emotional regulation and self-control influence growth and peer affiliation dynamics; and (b) how culture and interpersonal relationships contribute to and are influenced by social-emotional development. Additional areas of interest include Special Education, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and Research Methodologies.  I completed my practicum at Alvin ISD and am currently completing my LSSP internship in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. In my spare time, I enjoy going on walks, exploring new places, and watching movies. If you have any questions about the program or my experiences, please feel free to reach out to me at nkebbeh@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Kelli Lahman

Kelli Lahman is a third-year student in the Ph.D. School Psychology program at the University of Houston. After spending a year serving low-income and racially diverse children in public schools, she obtained her license as a specialist in school psychology (LSSP) and certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) in May 2022 after graduating from Texas A&M University-Commerce. At the University of Houston, Kelli is a Research Assistant working under the direction of Drs. Bradley Smith, Virginia Rangel, and Peter Copeland on the FIELDGeo HSI Implementation and Evaluation Project. She is currently completing an advanced practicum in the Counseling and Psychological Services Program (CAPS) at the University of Houston, providing individual and group therapy for college students experiencing emotional and behavioral problems. Kelli is also a student member on the National Association of School Psychologist's Communiqué Editorial Board, on which she serves as the Publications Coordinator for the Student Connections Column. Her research interests include manifestation determination reviews as well as evidence-based assessments and interventions focusing on mood and disruptive behavior disorders, personality traits as transdiagnostic markers, and developing technological innovations as a way to expand mental healthcare access across low-income areas. Kelli plans to pursue a career in academia following graduation. She can be reached at krlahman@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Anna Laakman

Hello! My name is Anna Laakman, and I’m a sixth-year student in the school psychology Ph.D. program. I am originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, but I moved to Houston from Southern California, where I worked at the Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of California-Irvine as the education and training director. My B.A. is in communication and sociology from Wake Forest University in North Carolina. I have a master’s degree in special education with a focus in autism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Before starting this program, I worked at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders on the Simons Simplex Collection and at Texas Children’s Hospital on the Simons Variation in Individuals Project. I’ve done practicum rotations in Katy ISD, the Center for Children and Women in Greenspoint and at Texas Children’s Hospital in Pediatric Psychology. I’m involved in research on campus and at Baylor College of Medicine in Dr. Eric Storch’s Lab. My research focuses on adolescent camouflaging behavior and ASD and factors that contribute to camouflaging. My advisor is Dr. Milena Keller-Margulis. Feel free to reach out at allaakma@central.uh.edu if you have any questions about the program!

My-Linh Luu

Hi there! I’m My-Linh Luu, a fifth-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at the University of Houston. I received a B.S. in Child Development (Child Life) from Texas Woman’s University and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University. Currently, I am involved in Dr. Kochel’s Lab for Clinical Autism Research at Texas Children’s Hospital and Dr. Storch’s Lab at Baylor College of Medicine. My practicum experiences include rotations with Katy ISD, The Harris Center’s Clinical and Feeding tracks, and Texas Children’s Hospital OCD and Anxiety Disorders Program. My research focuses on improving the experiences of parents and providers using behavioral telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. In my free time, I enjoy event planning for special milestones with friends and family, indulging in the Best Ever Food Review Show, and never skipping leg day. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions: mylinh.n.luu@gmail.com.

Marianna Messerli

Hello! My name is Marianna Messerli, and I’m a third-year doctoral student in the school psychology program. I graduated from Northwestern University in 2016 before pursuing master’s degrees in counseling psychology (University of Missouri) and special education (American University). Broadly, I am interested in integrated care and interdisciplinary collaboration to better support children with neurodevelopmental disorders and/or behavioral/emotional disorders. My specific research interests include early identification and intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), social emotional development in children with ASD, and the overlap of trauma and ASD. My advisor is Dr. Milena Keller-Margulis, and I am involved in the on-campus ASD4ASD (Dr. Keller-Margulis & Dr. Sarah Mire) and PASS (Dr. Keller-Margulis) research labs. I’m also involved in research at Baylor College of Medicine (Dr. Eric Storch). I’ve completed a practicum rotation in Pearland ISD, and this year I will be at Texas Children’s Hospital in their Autism Assessment rotation. In my free time, I enjoy cooking/baking, binging true crime podcasts, and snuggling with my dog, Dorian. Please feel free to contact me at mcmesse2@cougarnet.uh.edu!

Caroline Mousa

Hi there! I am currently in my 5th year of the program. I graduated in May 2020 with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in creative work from The Honors College at the University of Houston. My research interests include using mindfulness interventions to improve well-being, particularly for marginalized populations. I have been involved in Dr. Bradley Smith’s Mindfulness, Well-being, and Spirituality Lab since 2018, and I am currently the Principal Investigator of our main study—the Mindful Ambassador Program (MAP). I am currently working on my dissertation where I am investigating various delivery formats (in-person vs. online) of the MAP and their implications on practice. I am also a research assistant at Baylor College of Medicine and for a local non-profit, LEAD, which supports marginalized youth through social-emotional learning and experiences.

I completed my school psychology practicum at multiple KIPP schools across Houston and my LSSP internship at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. I completed an advanced practicum at the Children’s Assessment Center and am currently completing an advanced practicum at Texas Children’s West Campus Behavioral Health track. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, music, creating art, and trying new coffee shops. I love Houston, I love our program, and I love UH! You can reach me at  cmousa@uh.edu with any questions or interest in our program.

Stephanie Navarro

My name is Stephanie Navarro (she/her). I am a 3rd year doctoral student in the school psychology graduate program. I am originally from the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), where I obtained my B.S. in psychology and minor in addiction studies at the University of Texas RGV in 2019. Before joining the program, I worked in a multi-disciplinary private mental health office that was dedicated in providing and promoting mental health services to the RGV community. It was in my hometown where my research interests in Latino-a child development developed. I’m specifically interested in examining familial and cultural influences on children’s social-emotional development. Recently, I completed my school psychology practicum experience at Katy ISD. Currently, I am doing my LSSP internship at Spring Branch ISD. In addition, I am an RA for Dr. Keller-Margulis’ PASS lab and Dr. Dunsmore’s Social Development Lab. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my cat, Luna, and talking on the phone with my loved ones. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions – snavarr6@cougarnet.uh.edu

Rebecca Sanchez

Hi! My name is Rebecca Sanchez, and I am a fifth-year student in the program. I am a first-generation college graduate and first-generation American. I graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Trinity University in 2019. My research interests center around the influences of the early identification and early intervention of children with autism spectrum disorder. More specifically, I’d like to improve early identification and intervention in culturally and linguistically diverse families and children. Outside of school, I enjoy watching Netflix, going to the movies and spending time with my nieces and nephews. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at rjsanch5@cougarnet.uh.edu.

Dhwani Sanghavi

Hello! My name is Dhwani Sanghavi, and I’m a second-year international student in the School Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Houston. I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Mumbai, India, and subsequently pursued an M.Sc. in Development Disorders and Clinical Practice at the University of York in the UK.

During my time in India, I worked on providing literacy and mental health care to students from underprivileged and marginalized backgrounds. Currently, I am a school psychology practicum student at the Alvin Independent School District.

My research interests are centered on practitioner well-being, with a particular focus on compassion fatigue and burnout among mental health professionals. Currently, I am collaborating with graduate students in social work and medical school to address and alleviate student burnout.

To manage my own burnout, I incorporate mindfulness practices into my routine, indulge in reading, and find relaxation in watching K-dramas. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at- dsanghav@cougarnet.uh.edu!

Jelisa Scott

Hey there! My name is Jelisa Scott, and I am a sixth-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program. I am originally from Bossier City, Louisiana, but have made Houston my home since 2011. Before beginning my doctoral journey, I became a board-certified behavior analyst, started my own behavior management consulting company, and am the host of a podcast called Be Better. My research interests include understanding how implicit biases impact educators’ disciplinary decision-making toward students at the intersections of race and disabilities. When I’m not focusing on school, I’m surviving this pandemic by watching old ’80s and ’90s movies and sitcoms, listening to music, laughing at podcasts like The Read and Gettin’ Grown, or playing with my dog.  If you have any questions about the city or my experience as a student, feel free to email me at jscott1428@gmail.com.

Angela Serrano

Hello! My name is Angela Serrano, and I am in my internship year of the doctoral School Psychology program. I completed my B.A. in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin.

My advisor is Dr. Bradley Smith, and I am involved in the Youth Outcomes and Development Lab (YODL). Our projects include collaboration with our nonprofit partner, Letting Everyone Achieve Dreams (LEAD), examining social-emotional outcomes for middle and high school youth in a variety of LEAD-led settings. In addition, I completed my candidacy research about trait outcomes in high school youth with our wilderness camp partners. My dissertation involves examining school personnel perceptions of a school-based motivational interviewing intervention for middle school students and school decision making on acceptability and feasibility of the intervention.

My clinical experience has included school-based rotations through Katy ISD and Hempstead ISD. I have completed advanced practicums through private practice, A&M Telebehavioral Care, and A&M Family Care Clinic. I am currently completing my predoctoral internship at the Children's Assessment Center in Houston.

Caroline Silva

Hi! My name is Caroline Silva, and I am a seventh-year student in the School Psychology program. I received a B.S in psychology from Fordham University in New York. My research interests revolve around early literacy intervention in dual language learners, with a focus on the home literacy environment. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, working out and reading. Feel free to contact me with any questions at casilva4@uh.edu.

Kimberly Smoots

Hello, my name is Kimberly Smoots, and I am a first-generation college graduate from El Paso. I am currently a eighth-year student in the doctoral program. I received my B.A. in psychology from Texas A&M in Corpus Christi. I am bilingual, bi-ethnic and biracial. I am hoping to graduate with a focus on bilingual service delivery.

My advisor is Dr. Bradley Smith. My research interests include school-based mindfulness and cultural factors in service delivery, family-school relationships and family-focused service delivery such as parent management training. I am also generally interested in intervention research for mood, behavior, and emotional disorders and/or challenges. I am passionate about reducing mental health and/or disability stigma and hope to increase knowledge, awareness and acceptance among the families and communities.

I enjoy working in schools and have focused most of my training in this setting. I completed my school practicum in Katy ISD, my LSSP internship in Deer Park ISD and worked in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD for my advanced practicum training. In these practicums, I gained wonderful experiences doing assessments, interventions and consultation in both English and Spanish, primarily with elementary school students. Currently, I am an extern at Texas Children’s Hospital in their Brief Behavioral Intervention Program for preschoolers with behavioral challenges.

While I enjoy working in schools, I am also knowledgeable about the challenges faced by individuals and families in communities that are marginalized, and I use an equity lens to explore aspects of cultural humility with research and practice. I am currently also a HEARTspeak© (Holistically Engaging in Anti-Racist Transformation) co-facilitator with Full Circle Strategies, a consulting firm in Houston, that addresses equity and racism within organizations.

In my free time, I enjoy singing, dancing, cooking, reading, spending time with my family and friends and working out! If you have any questions about the application process or the program, you can email me at kdsmoots@uh.edu.

Mayson Spillman

Hello! My name is Mayson Spillman (she/her), and I am a second-year student in the School Psychology doctoral program. I am from Dallas, Texas, and I graduated from the University of Kentucky (Go Cats!) with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in math! My advisor is Dr. Brad Smith and my research interests broadly revolve around self-efficacy in different contexts and populations. I am currently focused on mindfulness self-efficacy, its sources, and how that impacts individual practice. In my free time, I am a virtual volunteer math tutor for students in Lexington, KY, and I enjoy reading and playing with my cat, Bella. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me! mmspillm@cougarnet.uh.edu

Catherine (Cat) Urso

Hey y’all! I am in my 4th year in the School Psychology doctoral program at UH. I’m born and raised in Houston, TX and had the pleasure of living in New Orleans, Louisiana (Who Dat?!) while completing my B.S. at Tulane University with a major in Public Health, minor in Psychology, and was pre-med.

At UH, I work with my advisor, Dr. Brad Smith, who heads our research lab of Mindfulness, Wellbeing, and Spirituality. My current research is focused on a school-based yoga + social emotional learning program provided in conjunction with the Puranik Foundation in some of Houston’s Title 1 high schools. I am particularly interested in how these practices can contribute to the reduction of mental illness symptoms, and improved wellbeing, attention, compassion, forgiveness, and interpersonal relationships for our students. My candidacy research project is a process evaluation, ensuring high degrees of fidelity and acceptability prior to implementing an effectiveness evaluation.

During my LSSP practicum and internship, I had the opportunity to work at Dickinson ISD and Pearland ISD, respectively. Currently, I’m completing my advanced practicum with A&M's TCHATT program. In addition to these experiences, I serve as President of the Mindful Coogs student organization, where I help lead initiatives focused on fostering wellness and building a mindful community. I’m also still involved in our lab’s Mindful Ambassador Program (MAP), providing general support. Outside of these roles, I’m a certified yoga instructor and a DJ for Houston's conscious community. One of my greatest passions is dancing—it’s my personal pathway to joy, and I indulge in it as often as I can! I would be happy to share my experience of this program and answer any questions you may have. If you would like to connect, please reach out! My email is crurso@cougarnet.uh.edu.  

Kai Yagi

Hi! I’m Kai Yagi, a third-year doctoral student in the school psychology program. I originally from Japan but moved to Texas to pursue a master's degree in special education at the University of Texas at Austin. Following that, I worked as a behavior technician at an early intervention clinic and obtained my Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification. Currently, I'm undertaking my school psychology practicum at Alvin ISD.

My research interests revolve broadly around autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with a specific focus on parent training and language development in young children with autism. Under the guidance of Dr. Keller-Margulis, I'm currently working on a project that examines learning loss during the pandemic among students with disabilities, using statewide testing data. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions at kuyagi@uh.edu! 

Outside Farish Hall

The School Psychology doctoral program is a member of UH's Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences department.

Program Director: Dr. Brad Smith

UH College of Education
Stephen Power Farish Hall
3657 Cullen Blvd., Room 491
Houston, TX 77204-5023

Undergraduate: coeug@uh.edu or 713-743-5000
Graduate: coegrad@central.uh.edu or 713-743-7676
General: coecomm@uh.edu or 713-743-5010

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