From across the globe to their own backyard, nine professors joined the University of Houston College of Education faculty this fall.
"I love how UH truly works to improve the outcome of urban students and educates so many people living on the Gulf Coast," said Assistant Professor Kristian Edosomwan, who grew up in Beaumont and returns to the Gulf Coast region to research access to advanced mathematics coursework. Like Edosomwan, the new faculty members' interests center on supporting students from underrepresented and underserved communities, and they bring a variety of expertise, including mathematics education, school psychology, artificial intelligence in learning, emotional development, health and wellness and the science of human communication.
The group includes those returning home and those making Houston their home for the first time. "I was born and raised in a midsize coastal city in northeastern China before I moved to Beijing for university," said Assistant Professor Xiaomei Li, who most recently worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Queen's University in Canada and is now exploring Houston's diverse food scene and urban lifestyle. Meanwhile, Clinical Assistant Professor Rhonda Scherer, a native Houstonian and proud UH alumna, describes her return to campus as a faculty member simply: "Returning to UH truly feels like coming home."
Learn more about the faculty's interests and the projects that excite them most in the following Q&A.
Kristian Edosomwan 
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Education: B.A., Sociology & Asian Studies, Rice University; M.Ed., Curriculum & Instruction,
Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Curriculum & Instruction, Texas A&M University
Most recent job: Graduate Research Assistant, Texas A&M University
What drew you to UH?
I love how UH truly works to improve the outcome of urban students and educates so many people living on the Gulf Coast. As someone focused on research that improves the math outcomes of urban students, I know that UH has connections and resources that will position me to make the most impact and that I can contribute to UH with my research and skills. And of course, I am from the region and extremely happy I landed near my family.
Can you share a little about your background (Where did you grow up? First-generation college student? Family background? Were you destined for academia or …. etc.)?
I grew up in Beaumont, Texas as the proud daughter of two elementary school teachers. Everyone always knew I would end up in some kind of advanced education because I was always a bookworm who loved learning new things and graduated as valedictorian. When I announced my job at UH on social media all my family, friends, and former classmates were unsurprised.
What are your research interests/areas of expertise? And what inspired or motivates your interest?
I research access to advanced mathematics coursework. This comes from my background, where taking advanced mathematics completely changed my life trajectories and prepared me for educational success. When my first-grade teacher tried to place me in special education because I was slow to learn how to read, my mother taught me how to read (with my older sister helping me practice). My mother was a special education teacher and knew I did not have a learning disability, and her teaching me how to read inspired my love of learning. That increased my test scores and placed me in advanced mathematics. My research focuses on who takes advanced mathematics, what policies increase mathematics enrollment for underrepresented students, and how the opportunity to take advanced mathematics impacts student pathways and resources.
What accomplishment or recognition are you most proud of so far in your career?
I am very proud of the TEDx talk I gave earlier this year because it allowed me to share my passion and research about having students take more advanced math classes in high school based on its association with success in school and life. My family also really hyped me up when I shared the YouTube video, which made me feel especially accomplished. They have always been supportive. However, seeing them all share and praise the video was what pushed this to be my proudest accomplishment: the joy of sharing my research in an easy-to-understand way my whole family could enjoy.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
I am really excited about using more detailed educational data to see how advanced mathematics trajectories affect the educational, life, and career outcomes of Texas students. Using UH’s connections and resources, I want to produce research and guidance that will increase the advanced mathematics course-taking for students. UH has so much excellence, high-quality data about Texas students that I have been wanting to access for years, so this is a dream come true for me.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
Go outside, exercise, and drink more water! I was terrible about maintaining my health and fitness as an undergraduate student. It was not until I started cycling, drinking more water, and eating better while working abroad that I realized how terrible I felt physically as a college student.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
be working as a data analyst for an urban school district or educational non-profit working to improve the educational outcomes of students from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy running, reading, enjoying delicious local coffee, playing cozy games, and being in community with my family.
Any other fun facts you’d like to share?
My first full time teaching experience was spending a year in rural Taiwan teaching English on a Fullbright grant.
Elise Hendricker 
Clinical Professor
Department of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences
Education: B.S., Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois; M.A. School
Psychology, University of Missouri; Ph.D., School Psychology, University of Missouri
Most recent job: Professor at University of Houston-Victoria
What excites you about working for UH?
UH is a premier institution in the greater Houston area and in Texas. The opportunity to work at a large institution that is committed to preparing students and doing research to solve diverse social problems in a changing world with amazing colleagues is exciting at this stage in my career.
Can you share a little about your background (Where did you grow up? First-generation college student? Family background? Were you destined for academia or …. etc.)?
I grew up in a small rural town in central Illinois. Leaving for a big academic institution was not something that many people did, nor an example of what I saw, but I viewed the opportunity as a way to learn about myself and the broader world. I envisioned myself to be a school psychologist working in the schools but transitioned into academia as I saw the role that training, mentoring and research plays in recruiting, retaining, and supporting a healthy pipeline of school psychologists who are well equipped to serve children and families.
What are your research interests/areas of expertise? And what inspired or motivates your interest?
My main research interests focus on family engagement and how school psychologists can support families and caregivers as they advocate for the needs of their children in schools. I also examine the current shortage of school psychologists and innovative ways to reduce this shortage. My interests are inspired by sustaining the field, recognizing the important work school psychologists provide, and ensuring that all families have the proper education and support they need to meet their child’s needs throughout the lifespan.
What accomplishment or recognition are you most proud of so far in your career?
I am most proud of growing a robust School Psychology program that has become nationally accredited and highly valued in the greater Houston area. Bringing this program to the University of Houston (from UHV) allows us to continue the excellent work we have started, grow our partnerships with local school districts, and expand our possibilities to better support children and families.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
I am currently the co-PI on a Department of Education grant that created a pathway from undergraduate to graduate training in School Psychology. Many undergraduate students aren’t aware of School Psychology as a career option, and our grant created coursework at the undergraduate level to start building identity as a school psychologist earlier in the career trajectory. We currently have School Psychology graduate students, some of whom started as undergraduate students, partnered with Katy ISD who will begin doing practicum and internship placement in the district in the coming years. I am excited to see their progress and also expand undergraduate opportunities in School Psychology at UH.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
Continue to work hard but remember that college is a transformational experience, both professionally and personally. For every hour that you spend studying and thinking about your career, also engage in time to pursue your passions, learn about your values and reflect on how that drives your purpose and future goals.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
probably be a school psychologist in the schools because I truly love the work. If I expanded outside of the field, I would work in TV/news to help educate others on current events and self-help topics.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Spending time with family, traveling, exercising, trying new restaurants, reading and listening to podcasts.
Any other fun facts you’d like to share?
I am an avid Peloton user, and it is how I have started my day nearly every day for the last 4 years. I try to make a yearly pilgrimage to the Peloton studios in New York to work out with the instructors and connect with the Peloton community.
Leonora (Lora) Kaldaras
Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum & Instruction & Psychological, Health
and Learning Sciences
Artificial Intelligence, Teaching and Learning
Education: B.A., Biochemistry, Bowling Green State University; M.A. (ABD), Chemistry, Bowling
Green State University; Ph.D., Dual: curriculum, instruction and teacher education
& Measurement and Quantitative Methods, Michigan State University
Most recent job: Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University
What drew you to UH?
My primary research interest is using artificial intelligence in teaching and learning contexts. This position with its focus on AI was an excellent fit for my background and interest. I am excited to be joining University of Houston because of their strong focus on research and innovation. I am looking forward to building new collaborations with world-class UH faculty to advance use of AI in educational settings. I am also excited to be moving to the city of Houston because of its diverse cultural scene and wide range of activities for kids and adults alike. I am looking forward to learning more about the city and the people.
Can you share a little about your background? (Where did you grow up? First-generation college student? Family background? Were you destined for academia or …. etc.)?
I grew up and graduated high school in Kharkiv Ukraine. When I was in high school, I was the Capitan of the team who won a competition help by the Rotary Club (USA) focused on best presentation about Ukraine. The prize was coming to the US as part of the Rotary Club delegation from Ukraine. For two weeks we gave presentations about Ukraine at various Rotary Clubs across US, served as interpreters for Ukrainian members of the delegation and met new people and learnt about US customs and traditions. By the end of our stay, I got offered a full scholarship to pursue BS studies at Bowling Green State University (Ohio). This was an amazing opportunity which I accepted. I studies Chemistry at BGSU (BS and MS (ABD)). I further decided to pursue STEM education PhD at Michigan State University because I got interested in designing learning environments to help student from a variety of backgrounds succeed in science. I never really thought about academia, this path kind of just happened naturally as I pursued my interests in various STEM research fields. I am excited for what future holds for me on this path. I enjoy working with students and meet new colleagues. I am a very collaborative person- I believe good research is always a result of good teamwork where each member brings in their unique expertise and hard work.
What are your research interests/areas of expertise? And what inspired or motivates your interest?
I am interested in studying how to leverage artificial intelligence and relevant learning theories to design meaningful, cognitively appropriate and timely instructional supports for learners from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds. Timely and meaningful feedback in fundamental to effective learning process. Before the era of AI, I was always interested in figuring out how to provide such feedback to individual learners and support teachers in doing it as well. With the current AI capabilities, I believe that timely, meaningful and pedagogically appropriate feedback tailored to individual learners could become a reality. However, we cannot assume that AI models are good at providing such feedback. We are learning now that AI without proper training is not good at it at all. This is where the role of educational researchers and practitioners like me becomes pivotal. It is crucial that we take steps towards training these powerful AI models to provide guiding, meaningful feedback that is grounded in relevant learning theories and adaptive to diverse needs of learners. Without this type of human-AI collaboration it is unlikely that we can achieve high pedagogical utility with AI models- even the most powerful ones.
What accomplishment or recognition are you most proud of so far in your career?
I am most proud of having had a chance to work with Dr. Carl Wieman, who is a Nobel Prize laureate in Physics, and an equally accomplished educator. He is the founder of PhET interactive simulations (https://phet.colorado.edu/ ). My work with hum focused on leveraging PhET simulations to support development of math-science sensemaking skills in introductory undergraduate STEM courses. This work made me realize the importance of fostering student agency and self-guided learning skills in helping student become independent learners and thinkers. This work also led to me being awarded Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship, which is another accomplishment I am extremely proud of. This award would not have been possible without the support from Dr. Carl Wieman and Dr. Kathy Perkins- the director pf PhET and an amazing mentor and researcher in the field of STEM education and Educational Technology. I am extremely grateful to both of them for their constant support and motivation.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
This year I will dedicate most of my time to working on the project that is funded through Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. It focuses on building a system that integrates PhET Interactive Simulations and AI learning agent to support development of math-science sensemaking skills among learners. The goal is to develop a system where a pre-trained AI agent will provide increasingly sophisticated guidance to learners as they are figuring out how to describe their observations in a PhET simulation mathematically. This system would be used in introductory STEM courses to help learns develop a deep quantitative understanding of fundamental topics in STEM. I also plan to extend this work to K-12 settings in the future.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
Don’t rush the events — everything happens (and will happen) in its due course. Enjoy your time with friends, take opportunities to learn new things and have fun being an undergrad!
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
I would be a high school teacher in Chemistry, Biology or ESL.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Free time? LOL! What is that? … But if I had free time, I would do more hiking, swimming and enjoying the nature with my family.
Any other fun facts you’d like to share?
No.
Xiaomei Li
Assistant Professor of Human Development & Family Sciences and Health
Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences
Education: B.S., psychology, Beijing Normal University; M.S. and Ph.D., human development and
family studies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Most recent job: Postdoctoral Fellow in the Development of Psychology at Queen’s University, Canada
What drew you to UH?
The intellectual rigor, vibrant research environment, and authentic commitment to community—qualities that align perfectly with my values and aspirations. The department's supportive, collaborative culture, where colleagues genuinely appreciate one another and their students, strikes me as an ideal environment to grow professionally. I am also excited by Houston’s diverse food scene and urban lifestyle.
Can you share a little about your background? (Where did you grow up? First-generation college student? Family background? Were you destined for academia or …. etc.)?
I have never lived in Texas before! I was born and raised in a midsize coastal city in northeastern China before I moved to Beijing for university. I then lived in a college town for six years in Illinois and two years in Ontario. As an only child, I have always felt both the weight of high expectations to excel and the privilege of my parents’ unwavering support in pursuing my academic and extracurricular passions. While I never initially envisioned a career in research or teaching, I’ve come to cherish academia for the continual joy of learning, discovery, collaboration, and mentorship.
What are your research interests/areas of expertise? And what inspired or motivates your interest?
I am interested in emotional development in relational contexts. My research examines how parents socialize youth’s emotion and stress regulation and contribute to their socioemotional well-being. I adopt a multi-method approach (observational, self-report, physiological) to investigate these processes at different developmental timescales (second by second, day by day, year by year). Honestly, the profound intricacy of human development drives me—both as a research and a curious observer—to understand what shapes resilience and adaptation.
What accomplishment or recognition are you most proud of so far in your career?
It’s incredibly hard to name one thing, but the proudest moments for me are always about the people and in the little things.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
I am piloting new paradigms to study how youth and families navigate today’s digital era. Online spaces have transformed how emotions are experienced, expressed, regulated, and socialized. Having lived away from my parents and close friends for years, I also deeply appreciate how digital communication tools can help people sustain social support systems despite geographical distances. I aim to apply development and family science frameworks to understand emotional adaptation and resilience within this hybrid physical-digital reality.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
Trust the process! The world moves at a relentless pace and anxiety runs high, but you’re not meant to have everything figured out right away (or perhaps ever). Just act — growth comes from steady and often quiet progress. Remember to reflect on what matters to you, embrace change, and let your (non-linear) path reveal itself.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
be a career counselor or open a coffee shop.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love diving into sports, arts, and fashion — whether it’s hitting the gym, taking dance classes, catching live concerts, hunting for boutique shops, or handcrafting jewelry. But above all, nothing beats sharing good vibes with friends and family!
Any other fun facts you’d like to share?
No.
Jaclyn Ocumpaugh
Associate Professor
Curriculum & Instruction
Education: B.A., Linguistics, University of Texas; M.A. English/Linguistics, North Carolina
State University; Ph.D. Linguistics, Michigan State University
Most recent job: Associate Director, Penn Center for Learning Analytics, University of Pennsylvania
What drew you to UH?
I wanted to work for a large university that serves a broad range of students, and I’m excited to be working with students who will help to shape educational opportunities in my home state.
Can you share a little about your background?
I grew up in South Texas, and I got to live in both Denton and Austin before I left the state to explore other learning opportunities. My mom was a special education teacher and her mom was a kindergarten teacher. So, finding ways to improve educational opportunities for all students has always been incredibly important to me.
What are your research interests/areas of expertise? And what inspired or motivates your interest?
I have a non-traditional path into the education research space. I trained as a sociolinguist so I would have the knowledge to understand how language variation affected students’ educational experiences, but my first opportunity to work in education research was with an AI team that was working to develop emotion detectors. I am always very curious about methodologies, so it was an exciting opportunity to learn, and the work on student’s academic emotions and behavioral engagement has become just as important to me.
What accomplishment or recognition are you most proud of so far in your career?
I have loved working with students, who always have such interesting takes on things. Many of the grad students who I’ve worked with have received a lot of recognition for our research over the years, but the students who go into teach have the opportunity to make sure that this research is implemented correctly. I’m always thrilled when I hear that something we covered in class helped my students as they became teachers themselves!
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
The new work with generative AI in education offers a lot of opportunities for personalization and support that weren’t possible with previous versions of AI. We have a lot of work ahead of us to ensure that it’s effective for everybody, but it’s an exciting time to be working in ed tech.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
You can’t drink the ocean with a straw! And don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your fellow students will appreciate you.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
have to find another nerdy (=fun) career. Maybe a librarian?
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love gardening, and I’m looking forward to cultivating a little patch of ground here in Houston.
Any other fun facts you’d like to share?
My favorite letter is R.
Rhonda Scherer 
Clinical Assistant Professor, Health
Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences,
Education: B.A. Professional Writing, University of Houston-Downtown, M.A. Health & Human
Performance, University of Houston-Downtown, Ph.D., Educational Psychology & Individual
Differences, University of Houston
Most recent job: Adjunct Faculty at University of Houston-Downtown and Associate Director of Sports
& Fitness, University of Houston-Downtown
What drew you to UH?
As a proud University of Houston alumna, I am so thrilled to be back on campus, this time as a faculty member. My time as a UH student was deeply rewarding, and I am grateful for the many incredible faculty members who guided me well beyond my academic journey. I am eager to serve students with the same dedication and support that I once received. As a lifelong learner, returning to UH truly feels like coming home.
Can you share a little about your background?
I am a native Houstonian and first-generation college student. My parents always joked that I was destined for a life in academia because I always wanted to go to school. Truth be told, I just wanted to ride the school bus! Over the years, I have realized that my real passion has always been learning both inside and outside the classroom.
What are your research interests/areas of expertise? And what inspired or motivates your interest?
As an avid fitness enthusiast, I have spent years helping others adopt healthier lifestyles whether as a personal trainer, aerobics instructor, or wellness coach. My research interests revolve around behavioral changes and promoting healthier living, particularly in diverse communities. These include:
- Developing health-related curricula to promote healthy eating and exercise habits on diverse college campuses.
- Study motivational factors and adherence to exercise and healthy living.
- Examining determinants of childhood obesity in minority and lower income children.
- Investigating "globesity" and major trends aimed at addressing this global health issue.
What accomplishment or recognition are you most proud of so far in your career?
On a personal level I am most proud of my family which includes three children, two grandchildren, and a loving, supportive husband. I am deeply grateful to have been in the right place at the right time to perform CPR on two individuals, both of whom survived. Those moments put everything into perspective. Career-wise, I am proud of the strong relationships I have built in both the health and wellness industry and in academia. I especially value the opportunity to mentor students, helping them navigate the collegiate experience to get the most out of it.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
I'm fortunate to be part of a research team led by Dr. Norma Olvera, and we are working
on several exciting initiatives. Alongside an incredible group of student interns,
we are providing education to seniors and other underserved populations on ways to
prevent diabetes. Our 26-week program has reached over 500 individuals, helping them
reduce body weight, lower sugar consumption, and increase physical activity. I am
thrilled to continue expanding this work.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
Fortunately, I took my own advice as a student. When I started college, I was shy and reserved, but I knew that I wanted to create opportunities for myself. I joined clubs and organizations, accepted invitations from faculty to participate in research. When our department wanted to offer aerobics classes, I became a certified instructor to be the first instructor for our department. My advice: find the job you want, then gain the relevant experience while pursuing your education to make yourself the most qualified candidate possible.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
have pursued a career in medicine. I have taught CPR, First Aid and AED trainings for over 25 years and have responded to more medical emergencies than I can count. I am unfazed by blood and quick to respond when someone needs help.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy teaching and volunteering wherever I am needed. While teaching prediabetes prevention courses to seniors, I also lead chair exercise classes to help increase their daily movements — chair boxing is always a crowd favorite. I also enjoy teaching ESL classes to students eager to learn English, which has been an incredibly fulfilling experience.
Any other fun facts you’d like to share?
I am looking forward to starting a new adventure — homeschooling my granddaughter.
Shannon B. Viola
Clinical Associate Professor, Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences
Specialist in School Psychology
Education: B.S., Psychology, Pittsburg State University; M.A., Educational Psychology, Oklahoma
State University; Ph.D., Educational Psychology with the option in School Psychology,
Oklahoma State University.
Most recent job: Associate Professor, University of Houston-Victoria
What excites you about working for UH?
I’m excited for the endless opportunities that the institution brings. I’m looking forward to working and learning from talented individuals.
Can you share a little about your background?
I’m originally from Kansas and over the years have slowly made my way south. I’ve lived in the greater Houston area since fall 2008. I completed an APPIC internship at Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District. I fell in love with Houston and the district and stayed at CFISD full time for 7 years working as a School Psychologists. I had always wanted to teach at a university and when the opportunity arose, I began teaching for the University of Houston Victoria’s School Psychology program. I remained at UHV for the last 11 years.
What are your research interests/areas of expertise? And what inspired or motivates your interest?
I’m drawn to anything related to children, schools, psychology, and the profession of school psychology.
What accomplishment or recognition are you most proud of so far in your career?
I am most proud of being a contributor to UHV School Psychology program gaining NASP accreditation. I’m ecstatic that we were able to maintain our accreditation during the program’s transition to UH.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you energized?
I’m excited to be part of adding a Specialist School Psychology program to the already established doctoral program. I’m looking forward to exploring new opportunities for our students to be actively involved at UH.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
Take time to study abroad.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
have a private practice.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy reading to my son, spending time with family, traveling and snuggling with my dogs.
Any other fun facts you’d like to share? Here are a few for you to pick from:
I write with my left hand, but do everything else with my right (e.g., cut, catch
and throw, etc.). I have a merle chihuahua named Mirlo.
Jiayi Wang 
Assistant Professor, School Psychology
Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences
Education: B.A., Bilingual Education, Beijing Language and Culture University; M.S. and Ph.D.,
School Psychology, North Carolina State University
Most recent job: Assistant Professor at New Mexico State University
What drew you to UH?
I was drawn to UH because of its diverse faculty and student population, strong commitment to social justice, and robust research resources that support high-impact, meaningful scholarship
Can you share a little about your background (Where did you grow up? First-generation college student? Family background? Were you destined for academia or …. etc.)?
I grew up in Weihai, China, and earned my BA in Beijing, including a one-year exchange experience in the UK. My father is an engineer and my mother stays at home. I’m the first person in my extended family who pursued a career in psychology.
When I was young, I dreamed of becoming a teacher and I would pretend to teach a class filled with my dolls and stuffed toys. Over time, I developed a strong interest in research. That journey led me to academia, where the role of research assistant professor feels like a perfect fit for my passion and skills in research and teaching.
What are your research interests/areas of expertise? And what inspired or motivates your interest?
My research focuses on school-based coaching to enhance intervention implementation, student academic intervention, experience of Asian population, and advancing diversity and equity in school psychology. I am motivated by the potential of applied research to create meaningful change for individuals and communities. My work related to Asian teachers and students is what some might call “me-search”, as it reflects my personal and professional goal to amplify the voices of the Asian population who remains underrepresented in the literature.
What accomplishment or recognition are you most proud of so far in your career?
I am especially proud of my diversity-focused work in school psychology, such as studies exploring the practicum and internship experiences of Asian school psychology trainees to support practitioner diversity, as well as research on the use of mixed methods to diversify the field’s methodological approaches. Receiving the Early Career Award in 2025 from Trainers of School Psychologists was a meaningful recognition of this work. It has further motivated me to contribute to the training, advising, and supervision of graduate students in school psychology programs.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
I am excited to continue working on a coaching program I co-developed with Dr. John Begeny, which is designed to support educators in implementing effective practices in schools. I also developed the Teachers’ Motivation Assessment for Coaching (T-MAC) rating scale, which emerged from my applied research on teacher motivation. I am particularly looking forward to using this tool in practice to better understand and engage teachers in the coaching process.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
For my graduate student self: hang in there. The time you spend on coursework, practicum, research, and teaching will be challenging, but it’s all building the professional skills and confidence you will carry forward in your career. It’s absolutely worth it!
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
Become a school psychologists or on a very different path, opening a boba tea shop
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I like playing pickle ball, hanging out with my mini poodle, and exploring good food.
Brett Welch 
Assistant Professor and Biostatistician in Communication, Education, and Healthcare
Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences; Communication Science & Disorders
Measurement, Quantitative Methods, & Learning Science
Education: B.A., Linguistics, University of Texas at Austin; B.S., Speech-Language Pathology,
University of Texas at Austin; M.S., Communication Sciences and Disorders, University
of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Ph.D., Communication Science and Disorders, University
of Pittsburgh
Most recent job: Postdoctoral Researcher in the Affective Communication & Computing Lab in the Department
of Psychology at the University of Kansas
What drew you to UH?
I was drawn to UH for a few reasons. First, Houston is one of my favorite cities in general. More importantly, I thoroughly appreciated how friendly and supportive the faculty was during all my interactions with them. It was also very important for me to choose a place with a culture where I would thrive, and I think UH's dedication to supporting its researchers and students is a perfect fit for me and my career.
Can you share a little about your background (Where did you grow up? First-generation college student? Family background? Were you destined for academia or …. etc.)?
I was raised in the Houston area in a working class family. As a first-generation college student who had all A's in high school despite never studying, the transition to college was tough. I found myself actually having to study for the first time. Eventually, I figured that out and discovered my fascination with human communication, prompting me to quickly fall in love with Linguistics. Discovering Speech-Language Pathology allowed me to combine my desire to help others with my passion for communication.
I earned my master's degree to become a speech-language pathologist, and during that time I became even more enamored with the human voice. I moved back to Houston and completed my clinical fellowship and worked in a hospital system before opening my own voice-specialized private practice. To voice therapists, the mind-voice connection seems so obvious because we see it in our patients every day. However, the more I began to delve into the literature to understand this phenomenon, the more I realized how little we understood it empirically. I pursued my PhD to further investigate these mind-voice connections and to better understand how we can improve assessment and treatment outcomes for patients with and without voice disorders. I don't think I was destined for academia, but I am forever grateful for the many mentors I've had along the way who helped me get here.
What are your research interests/areas of expertise? And what inspired or motivates your interest?
My research sits at the intersection between psychology and communication. I'm fascinated
by what we say, how we say it, and what it says about us. Our voices are the intimate
auditory fingerprint that we share with loved ones and complete strangers. A conduit
to our psyche, our voices convey our mood, our emotions, and our identities – sometimes
against our wishes.
As a voice-specialized speech-language pathologist, I have worked clinically with
these psycho-social-vocal relationships for years – helping clients to regain their
voice after a traumatic event, or to develop a voice that more accurately conveys
their identity. Building off this clinical work, my research seeks to better understand
the psychological processes influencing how we use our voices, but also how our voices
can impact our psychological well-being. Leveraging contemporary methods from Quantitative
Psychology with gold-standard voice and speech assessments, I interrogate these relationships
to improve outcomes for people with and without voice disorders.
What accomplishment or recognition are you most proud of so far in your career?
I'm proud of a few things so far in my relatively short career. During my PhD training, I was chosen to participate in the TL1 Clinical and Translational Science Fellowship, a rigorous and prestigious training fellowship focused on advancing translational research. I've also had the privilege of mentoring numerous students in my field at various stages of their careers and seeing them succeed in their careers is a point of great pride. Also, when I submitted my dissertation research for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, it was accepted as-is during the first round of peer-review. It felt like hitting a scientific hole-in-one, and it was a nice affirmation of the amount of work and effort I put into my dissertation research.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
I'm currently wrapping up a project that investigates how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts the voice with my former postdoc mentor. This project will help develop a low-cost, easily deployable screener that can be used with high-risk populations (e.g., military veterans) or in areas with limited access to mental health resources. This screening tool will help flag individuals who would benefit from a more thorough PTSD assessment, allowing providers to more efficiently allocate resources and to help get people living with PTSD connected to mental health providers and life changing support.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
Reach out and network more — both with your peers and with professors.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
be a photographer trying to travel the world.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love being outdoors and going for walks, runs, and hikes. I also really enjoy yoga, cooking (and eating), and being silly on stage doing long-form improv.
Any other fun facts you’d like to share?
No.