Temple Walkowiak is a third year doctoral student in the mathematics education program. Prior to her studies at UVA, Temple worked as a middle school mathematics teacher, mathematics specialist, and assistant principal. During this work, she developed a passion for conceptual understanding for students in mathematics, extending beyond procedures, memorization, rules, and formulas. Her research interests include teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge, children’s development of mathematical concepts during upper elementary and middle school, and professional development models that deepen teachers’ conceptual understandings of mathematics. In her free time, Temple enjoys cooking, traveling, watching college sports, running, spoiling her nieces and nephews, and spending time with her husband, Keith.

Tashia Abry is a second year doctoral student in the Educational Psychology – Learning and Development program. Her research interests include social and emotional development as a protective factor, implementation fidelity, and quantitative methodology, which were all greatly influenced by her prior work as Prevention Coordinator for an area community service board. Outside of her studies, Tashia enjoys spending time with her husband, Dennis and dog, Chiti, as well as travel, good food, running, time outdoors, and arts and crafts.

Erin McCracken is a second year doctoral student in the Risk and Prevention Program in Education Sciences.She is evaluating the mathematics measures for the Responsive Classroom Efficacy Study. Her research interests include elementary mathematics, motivation, second language learning, and self-efficacy. Erin also coaches swimming and enjoys photography and traveling the world.

Michelle Yoon is in the Ph.D. program in Educational Psychology. Some of her academic interest areas include obesity and temperament as developmental risk factors, and how students learn math and science. Prior to coming to the Ph.D. program, Michelle was a college career counselor, and high school counselor. Outside of school, Michelle swims regularly, and loves scrabble and word puzzles, gardening, playing the piano, baking and knitting.

Eileen Merritt is a first year doctoral student in the Risk and Prevention Program in Education Sciences. Her research interests include teacher quality, elementary science and mathematics education, engagement and environmental education. Before entering the doctoral program, Eileen taught fourth grade for many years in Albemarle County, and sixth grade in Chesapeake City Schools. In her free time, Eileen likes to be outdoors whenever possible, either running, hiking, or walking her dogs. She also enjoys spending time with her family.

Claire Baker is a second year doctoral student in the Educational Psychology program in the Curry School of Education. She studies child development using an ecological systems approach to understand cultural, political, historical, and structural factors that influence educational systems. Her research interests focus on child rearing practices as well as environmental systems and their implications for the health and achievement of ethnic minority children. Currently, she is using the early childhood longitudinal study of kindergartners to investigate the relation between environmental risk, parental involvement and school performance among African American boys in kindergarten.

Photos of Erin McCracken and Michelle Yoon courtesy of Dan Addison, UVa Public Affairs. Photo of Lori Nathanson courtesy of Sarah Cramer, Cramer Photography.