COPE announces Research & Innovation Fellows

Aug. 19, 2024 — DENTON — The College of Professional Education at Texas Woman’s University announced a Research & Innovation Fellowships initiative designed to support tenure-track faculty pursuing new research, grant-related work, and innovative projects. The inaugural fellows are Assistant Professor Adam Jones, PhD, (Research) and Associate Professor Aimée Myers, PhD (Innovation).

"This opportunity will allow our Research and Innovation Fellows to 'Dream Big,'” said Associate Dean of Research and Innovation Maria Peterson-Ahmad, PhD. “By providing the necessary support, we aim to foster an environment where faculty can push boundaries of their research and contribute to innovative advancements that benefit the college and the university at large."

The college will provide fellows with dedicated time and resources for projects that advance strategic goals of the College of Professional Education while promoting academic excellence and innovation. Faculty members will have the chance to explore new ideas, secure grants, and implement projects that can have a lasting impact on their fields of study and educational community.

“Ever since COVID, many of us have been in survival mode. Our workloads have increased, our students' needs have become more significant, and we are all running out of steam,” Myers said. “When faculty are given resources, time, and mentorship, it allows us to reflect, formulate, and create.” 

Jones, of the School of Human Sciences, is working on multiple projects aiming to identify and enhance skills that make therapy more effective. He has assembled a team of graduate students to rate study responses using an original measure Jones developed with a colleague. Ultimately, the goal is to provide concrete, evidence-based recommendations for training therapists to improve skills and, consequently, therapy outcomes for clients.

“It was incredibly rewarding and validating to be named the Research Fellow for COPE. It's an honor to be recognized and to have the opportunity to focus my time on contributing to the field,” Jones said. “The COPE fellowship gives me the chance to focus more time on one of my favorite parts of the job.”

Myers, of the School of Education, plans to use her fellowship to address the teacher shortage, specifically for urban schools. To start, she will focus on a micro-credential in urban education to provide students with practices and skills to help them navigate complex environments of urban schools as well as dispel stereotypes and assumptions about urban schools.

Eventually, she would like to expand the micro-credential into a full certificate program and a dedicated track for graduate students. Additionally, she’d like to build out a piece of the curriculum into professional development for teachers and educational leaders throughout Texas.

“I know that our college has an immense amount of talent, expertise, and innovation. I feel incredibly honored and hope that I can serve our college through these ideas. Establishing an urban education program has been a dream of mine ever since I worked on my dissertation in an urban school,” Myers said. “I am incredibly grateful to have the time and resources to fully flesh out this idea and bring it to life. Having this opportunity has reignited my flame as a thinker and fortified my drive to serve our students.”

Page last updated 11:13 AM, August 19, 2024