COE In the News
The Office of Communications helps facilitate media interviews and provides timely information about the College of Education. Our faculty have a wide range of expertise in education and health and can provide context and insight on newsworthy happenings.
Recent Media Mentions
- Mock student slave auction on Snapchat at N. Texas School
Fox 26 Houston (video)
April Peters-Hawkins, associate chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, weighs in on a racist online incident and the responsibilities of educators.
- Queer Voices
90.1 (KPFT)
Department Chair Nathan Smith, a professor of counseling psychology, discusses his Project PRIDE program to support young gay, bisexual and queer men.
- How far behind in their learning were Hispanic students during the pandemic in Houston?
45 Univision Houston (video)
Jorge Gonzalez, a professor in the school psychology program, discussed his research on the academic impact of the pandemic on Hispanic students.
- How should Texas schools spend $18 billion in stimulus money? Education leaders have ideas.
Houston Chronicle
Anne McClellan, executive director of the Advancing Community Engagement and Service Institute, discusses the expanding the Cougar Tutors program to serve more local K-12 students.
- Two sides of the same screen: Teachers in training learn remotely, then stream into local classrooms
Houston Chronicle
Clinical Professor Shea Culpepper and Clinical Assistant Professor Justin Burris discuss the preparation of student teachers in a virtual environment.
- Anti-Asian Racism On The Rise
Houston Public Media
Professor Yali Zou, who directs the UH Asian American Studies Center, discusses discrimination against Asian Americans and the need for change, propelled by research and education.
- Family members help with virtual learning during pandemic
Click2Houston News
Assistant Professor Rhoda Freelon discusses advantages of having extended family members support children with virtual learning during the pandemic.
Miguel Burgess Monroy, an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, stresses that teachers should take time in class to make sure students follow the new CDC guidelines (video in Spanish).
Ruth López, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, explains the educational challenges faced by minors who cross the border alone and what the education they receive in detention centers is like (video in Spanish).
- Dr. Grenita Lathan announces she's leaving HISD after more than 3 years as interim superintendent
ABC Eyewitness News
April Peters-Hawkins, associate chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, discusses how the tenure of a superintendent can impact district improvement.
April Peters-Hawkins, associate chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, addresses the practice of student role-playing that can lead to negative gender and racial attitudes.
- How do you get a COVID-19 vaccine? In Texas' rollout, it's a game of luck and chance.
Houston Chronicle
Ezemenari Obasi, associate dean for research and founder of the UH HEALTH Research Institute, explains some of the reasons why Texas’ rollout of the vaccine is especially challenging for those in the Black and Latino communities.
- Does an accreditation sanction hurt colleges' enrollment?
Higher Ed Dive
Christopher Burnett, a postdoctoral fellow with the UH Education Research Center, explains the findings of his research and factors that may have led to decreased college enrollment due to accreditation action.
Ezemenari Obasi, associate dean for research and director of the UH HEALTH Research Institute, shares advice on how to cut back on alcohol consumption and suggests activities to mitigate stress.
Assistant Professor Elsa Gonzalez discusses how the grant will help her understand the factors that influence success among Latina STEM students.
- Mental Health Curriculum to help Texas Kids
Reform Austin
Rachael Whitaker, director of the M.Ed. in counseling program, shares her thoughts on how to reinforce kindness in schools by implementing a mental health curriculum.
- DATA: Houston-area school districts see troubling failure rates for first grading period
Click2Houston News
Duncan Klussmann, clinical assistant professor and former superintendent of Spring Branch ISD, stresses the importance of breaking down the reasons for the failure rate in Houston area schools during the pandemic.
- Texas Students Are Failing Classes, Can They Catch Up?
Reform Austin News
Associate Chair Amber Thompson, who oversees teacher education, discusses the need for reasonableness and re-evaluating assignments and assessments amid the pandemic.
Kelli Drenner, director of the College’s B.S. in health program, warns that people should not let their guard down during the upcoming holiday season.
- Girls can be girls at Black Girl Magic School
Houston Chronicle
Assistant Professor Rhoda Freelon discusses learning pods and the education of Black students.
Duncan Klussmann, clinical assistant professor and former superintendent of Spring Branch ISD, explains possible reasons for the decline in enrollment in many Houston-area school districts.
Assistant Professor Leslie Frankel urges parents to adapt Halloween celebrations and make them fun and safe for children.
- How The Pandemic’s Affecting Our Children
Houston Matters
Professor Julie Dunsmore shared advice for parents to care for their children’s emotional and social development during the pandemic (starts at minute 15:07).
- Enrollments fall by thousands as Houston-area schools open amid pandemic
Houston Chronicle
Professor Julie Dunsmore, a professor of human development and family studies, discussed the impact of young children in particular not enrolling in school amid COVID-10.
- Do STEM toys actually teach kids science and math?
Live Science
Assistant Professor Allison Master shares advice for encouraging students’ interest in STEM.
- Is Art Always Political?
ArtHouston
Professor Sheng Kuan Chung, director of the art education program, discusses the intersection of art, politics and social activism.
April Peters-Hawkins, associate chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, discussed concerns about the pandemic disproportionately impacting the academic progress of students from historically underserved populations.
Associate Dean for Research Ezemenari Obasi warns that algorithms that are not designed with cultural differences and lived experiences in mind may be harmful to minority communities.
- ABC13 hosts town hall on educational inequality for Hispanic students
ABC13 Eyewitness News (video)
Cathy Horn, chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies and director of the UH Education Research Center, discuss the importance of high quality and diversity in the teaching profession to support Hispanic students.
- UH launching addiction and cancer prevention center
Houston Chronicle
Ezemenari Obasi, associate dean for research and founder of the UH HEALTH Research Institute, discusses how an $11.8 million grant will be used to tackle chronic health problems that affect minority populations.
- For Galveston County parents who work, in-person school might be only option
Galveston County Daily News
Clinical Assistant Professor Carrie Cutler explains the issues surrounding parents’ decision to send their children to school or keep them home.
Clinical Assistant Professor Carrie Cutler discusses her plan to keep students feeling connected in her online classes.
- University of Houston professor offers 5 tips for teachers to improve online learning
Community Impact Newspaper
Clinical Assistant Professor Bulent Dogan offers tips for teachers to help students succeed in online classes.
- When Work From Home Meets Home School
KERA Think
Sam Brower, director of the M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction program, discusses the challenges of another school year during the COVID-19 pandemic (starts at minute 16:15).
- Houston-area schools lost contact with tens of thousands of students during COVID, TEA data shows
Houston Chronicle
April Peters-Hawkins, associate chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, warns that students who weren’t engaged or in contact with their schools during the pandemic could suffer long-term impacts.
- 13 Investigates Houston campuses with fewest students engaged
ABC Eyewitness News
Clinical Assistant Professor Duncan Klussmann explains how K-12 attendance is crucial in Texas because it is tied to school funding.
Curriculum & Instruction Department Chair Margaret Hale explains why an asynchronous learning model, where students are more self-paced and self-guided, presents concerns for marginalized students.
- The Toll Separation Takes on Families with COVID-19
Houston Public Media
Assistant Professor Leslie Frankel discusses the impact on children who have to separate from parents who come down with COVID-19.
- COVID-19 can spread in air if schools don't have proper AC, report says
ABC Eyewitness News
Kelli Drenner, director of the College’s B.S. in health program, explains how ventilation may play an important role in stopping the spread of COVID.
- Thursday’s Houston Matters: Back-To-School Plans At Fort Bend ISD, And Parenting In A Pandemic
Houston Public Media
Sam Brower, director of the M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction program, shares insights about K-12 students returning to school in an online environment and the challenges parents will face.
Clinical Assistant Professor Carrie Cutler shares technology tips and other advice for successful online learning.
Associate Dean for Research Ezemenari Obasi warns that even though Texas’ response to COVID-19 has improved, it still falls short of what's needed.
Kelli Drenner, director of the College’s B.S. in health program, comments on the importance of taking this pandemic more seriously.
- Q&A: University of Houston professor says high school fall sports in Texas is not possible
Beaumont Enterprise
Kelli Drenner, director of the College’s B.S. in health program, discusses the feasibility of continuing Texas high school sports during the pandemic.
Kelli Drenner, director of the College’s B.S. in health program, discusses the public health crisis.
- Challenges ahead for thousands of 'uncontactable' students
ABC 13 Eyewitness News
Sam Brower, director of the M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction program, shares insights on the importance of helping students make up for lost learning time.
- Texas schools will look different come August. Here’s how.
Houston Chronicle
Clinical Assistant Professor Duncan Klussmann suggests that schools should prepare a long-term strategy in response to the pandemic.
- 1A Across America: School’s Out For Summer
1A WAMU NPR
Former Superintendent Duncan Klussmann, a clinical assistant professor of school leadership, discussed education in the COVID-19 era on the nationally distributed NPR show “1A.”
- K-12 Educators Begin To Map Out The New School Year
Houston Public Media
Clinical Assistant Professor Duncan Klussmann, a former superintendent, shares insights on a blueprint for the next academic year amid COVID-19.
- Opinion: We shouldn’t want to return to normal after COVID-19. Let’s invest in everyone’s health.
Houston Chronicle
Associate Dean for Research Ezemenari Obasi calls for a better, more equitable normal in this op-ed.
- Expert believes COVID-19 testing sites must be mobile to help vulnerable communities
Fox26 Houston (video)
Associate Dean Ezemenari Obasi, who leads the UH HEALTH Research Institute, discussed ways to address health disparities related to COVID-19 testing.
- School leaders make quick adjustments to online learning
DA District Administration
Clinical Assistant Professor Keith Butcher offered suggestions for making online learning fun and reasonable and reflected on the long-term impact on education.
Assistant Professor Ruth López offers advices for parents trying to help their children with schoolwork while schools are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Unintended Consequences Of School Security Policies
Houston Public Matters
Clinical Assistant Professor Keith Butcher discusses rethinking active shooter drills, metal detectors and other school safety issues (segment starts at 6:06).
- University of Houston's online graduate program is top ranked
FOX 26 News Houston (video)
Curriculum & Instruction Department Chair Margaret Hale discusses the College’s online master's degree programs, ranked eighth best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
- Not many women fought California’s deadly fires
The Lily (The Washington Post)
Associate Dean Consuelo Arbona shares her research on female firefighters.
- How A State Takeover Of HISD Would Work
Houston Public Media
Clinical Assistant Professor Duncan Klussmann provides clarity on the proposed state takeover of the Houston Independent School District.
- 'It saddens me’: Thousands of HISD students never check out books from school libraries
Houston Chronicle
Clinical Professor Margaret Hale comments on the importance of school librarians to assist teachers and promote literacy.
- Bracing for a slowdown: As economists predict reduced speed ahead, here's what Houston can expect
Houston Business Journal
Associate Professor Lyle McKinney shared his insights on the impact of a slowing economy on higher education.
- BridgeYear helps graduating high schoolers find their path
Houston Chronicle
Doctoral student Victoria Doan, founded a nonprofit in 2016 to help high school students figure out what they want to do after graduation.