College of Education Research Day

Connections in Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity

The College of Education Research Day is Tuesday, March 31. It is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the breadth and depth of research, scholarship, and creative activities across the college. This inaugural event will run in parallel with the annual CCTS Spring Research Conference at the Central Bank Center in downtown Lexington. The college’s oral and poster sessions will feature the scholarship of our faculty, staff, and students.

College of Education attendees will have access to any of the CCTS Conference programming throughout the day, including plenary speakers and other college research days.

We are also excited to share that we will be hosting a college social at LexLive immediately following the conference. More details to come.

Conference registration is required for all attendees and presenters.

Register online

College of Education Research Celebration

Following the College of Education Research Day on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the College will host a celebratory social event at LexLive. For planning purposes, please register for this event. Anticipated event time is immediately following the poster session from 5pm-7pm. More details to come.

RSVP online

Agenda and Schedule

Download the full College of Education Research Day agenda

Start Time	Event
7:30 AM	Breakfast & On-site Registration
8:30 AM	Welcome & Speaker Introduction
9:00 AM	Morning Keynote Address: The Experimenter's Mindset: Putting AI to Work Across Research, Education, and Clinical Care, Kevin Sexton, MD
10:00 AM	Frederick Douglass High School Student Poster Session
10:15 AM	Morning Breakout Sessions
10:30 AM	One-Minute Poster Pitch
11:30 AM	Lunch (requires registration by March 24)
11:50 AM	Speaker Introduction
12:00 PM	Afternoon Keynote Address: Why Most Healthcare AI Fails: Lessons From the Real World, Jesus Caban, PhD
12:50 PM	Awards & Recognition
1:00 PM	Break
1:30 PM	College Research Day Breakout Sessions
3:00 PM	Poster Session Venue Opens (for all participating colleges/units)
3:30 PM	College of Education Poster Session
5:00 PM	Conference conclusion and transition to LexLive

College of Education Breakout Sessions

1:30 PM

Dean’s Welcome & Opening Remark

Nicholas Pace, EdD, Dean, College of Education

Session I - Translating Research to Practice: Human Performance, Cognitive Function, and Community Impact

1:38 PM	Just Horsing Around: Implementation of the Think-Aloud Protocol with Equestrian Athletes	Ashley Samson, PhD, Professor, Kinesiology and Health Promotion
1:50 PM	The Impact of a Simulated Occupational Exposure on Firefighters’ Neuromuscular and Cognitive Function	Mark G. Abel, PhD, Professor, Kinesiology and Health Promotion
2:02 PM	From Trust to Impact: Centering Community Voice in Public Health Prevention Work	Kylee Pipgrass, MPH, Project Manager, Kinesiology and Health Promotion
2:12 PM	Session I Moderated Q&A	Heather Erwin, PhD, Professor & Chair, Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Session II - Innovations in Teaching, Learning, and Family Support Across Educational Contexts

2:30 PM	Leveraging Learning Analytics to Foster Self-Regulated Learning: A Multi-Semester Study in a Fully Online Course	Kun Huang, PhD, Associate Professor, Teaching & Learning
2:42 PM	Effective, Scalable, and Cost-Sensitive Professional Development for Teachers: A Randomized Controlled Trial	Collin Shepley, PhD, BCBA-D, Associate Professor, Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education
2:54 PM	Navigating Partnership and Parenting: A Mixed Methods Study of Marital Quality of Life in Families of Autistic Children	Amanda Duncan, PhD, BCBA, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education
3:06 PM	Empowering Transitions: Special Educators’ Role in Supporting Students with Disabilities	Megan Best, PhD Assistant Professor, Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education
3:18 PM	Session II Moderated Q&A	Jonathan Thomas, EdD, Professor & Chair, Teaching and Learning

College of Education Posters

Board #, Project Title, Presenting author (co-authors listed in full program and on posters)

214	Evaluating Youth Receptivity to a Vaping Prevention Program in Kentucky, R. Adesiyan, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
215	Experiences of community health champions: A mixed-methods evaluation of a health-focused leadership program, Jakob Hester, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
216	Perceptions of Sport Psychology Efforts and Access in Para Sport, L. C. Cohen, Kinesiology and Heath Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
217	Leading the Lane: The Impact of Coaching Leadership on Cohesion and Athlete Development in Collegiate Track and Field, L. Brennen, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
218	The NEER Model: A New Framework for Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting, A. Samson, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
219	Individuals With Symptomatic Hip Osteoarthritis Ambulate with Altered Hip Stress Contact Locations, H. M. Elliott, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
220	Assessing The Impact of Knee Osteoarthritis Phenotype on Knee Total Joint Moment in Aging Adults, M. V. Jacobs, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
221	Comparison of Isokinetic and Handheld Dynamometry Knee Flexion and Extension in Young Children, A. R. Spong, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
222	The Association of Strength and Body Composition in Children Ages 5 to 11 Years, T. R. Naylor, Kinesiology and Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
223	The Association of Handgrip Strength and Leg Strength in Children Ages 5 to 11 Years, K. P. Kohlman, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
224	Rate of Force Development in Healthy and At-Risk Children, S. M. Sigrist, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
225	Feasibility Assessment of Smart Resistance Training Technology in the Fire Service, Thomas Chandler, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky, University of Kentucky
226	Firefighter Exercise Behaviors On- and Off-Duty, Jazdin Weatherbie, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
227	The Impact Of Palm Cooling On Neuromuscular Recovery In Firefighters, James W. Henley, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
228	The Impact Of Palm Cooling On Physiological Outcomes During Recovery In Firefighters, Emily M. Speaker, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
229	The Impact Of Palm Cooling On Perceived Recovery During Rehabilitation Among Firefighters, L. M. Stout, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky
230	Examining Deeper Learning–Aligned Pedagogical Practices and Continuity Across P–3 Classrooms, Beth Rous, Educational Leadership Studies, College of Education, University of Kentucky
231	Exploring Educational Politics Through Autoethnography, Sylvia Mendez, Educational Leadership Studies, College of Education, University of Kentucky
232	Applying Organizational Learning Principles to Real-Time, Online EDL Doctoral Programs, Sylvia Mendez, Educational Leadership Studies, College of Education, University of Kentucky
233	Meaningful Desegregation and Integration at the Middle School Level: Documenting Efforts in New York City, Zitsi Mirakhur, Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education, University of Kentucky
234	Leading for Local Accountability in the Bluegrass State, Karen Perry, Educational Leadership Studies and Center for Next Generation Leadership, College of Education, University of Kentucky
235	Deeper Learning Early College Model: Innovative Approaches to Learning and Insights from Next Gen Dual Credit Program, Trisha Douin-Manning, Evaluation Center, College of Education, University of Kentucky
236	Growing Stronger Together: Kentucky’s Path to a Unified Early Childhood System, Anne-Marie Tortolano Wilson, Evaluation Center, College of Education, University of Kentucky
237	Extending the Short Critical Consciousness Scale: Measuring Critical Action Among K–8 In-Service Teachers, Olukemi Kolawole, Evaluation Center, College of Education, University of Kentucky
238	Illuminating the Black Box of Technical Assistance Through Heat Map Visualization, Shannon Sampson, Evaluation Center, College of Education, University of Kentucky
239	The Higher Education Experiences of Queer, Rural Students Enrolled at a Large University in the South, Ty McNamee, Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education, University of Kentucky
240	Rural Indigenous students’ pathways to and through Peruvian institutos: An ecological systems analysis, Kayla M. Johnson, Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education, University of Kentucky
241	Role of Math Dual Enrollment on Student Outcomes, Jungmin Lee, Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education, University of Kentucky
242	Why don’t Community College Students Transfer?, Jungmin Lee, Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education, University of Kentucky
243	Leveraging the Classroom as a Community for Students' Learning and Wellbeing: Teachers' Perspectives, Omotope Matilda Solomon, Teaching and Learning, College of Education and Learning Design and Technology, Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, University of Kentucky
244	Resilience During Societal Breakdown: Anomie, Social Capital, and Social-Ecological Resilience in the US, Tristain Lewis, Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, College of Education, University of Kentucky
245	The Financial and Psychological Toll of Early Childhood Education: A Mixed-Methods Study of Kentucky Child Care Directors, Joanne Rojas, Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, College of Education, University of Kentucky
246	To What Extent Do Teachers and Principals Agree? Univariate and Multivariate Evidence on Principal Leadership and School Leadership, Xin Ma, Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, College of Education, University of Kentucky
247	Evaluating Dosage Within a Rapid Caregiver Coaching Model: Preliminary Findings from Two Families, Emy Lovell, Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education, College of Education, University of Kentucky

Resources

For the latest information on the CCTS Conference:

CCTS Spring Conference Information

Registration and Cost

The College of Education Research Day is free for all College of Education faculty, staff, and students. However, registration is required. Lunch will be provided for attendees who register by March 24.

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Take a look at the VisitLex website for information on things to do and places to dine during your stay in Lexington.

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