By: Claire Quigle

Kelly Schieltz, an alumna of the University of Iowa, recently joined the University of Iowa College of Education as an assistant professor in School Psychology.

Schieltz obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 2001 with a double major in psychology and dance with a minor in human relations. She then went on to get a MA in special education in 2006, and a PhD in school psychology with an emphasis in applied behavior analysis in 2013. After completing her PhD, Schieltz completed a post-doctoral fellowship in pediatric psychology at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Schieltz’s research focuses on the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, such as self-injury, aggression, and destruction displayed by children with and without developmental disabilities. She conducts both clinical and translational research.

Schieltz’s clinical research focus is on telehealth. Initially, she evaluated the effectiveness of using telehealth to conduct behavioral assessments and treatments on the challenging behavior of young children. She used a clinic-to-clinic telehealth model and a clinic-to-home telehealth model. Because her results showed similar effects to when she conducted the same procedures in person, telehealth is now used as one mode of service delivery when evaluating other research questions unrelated to telehealth.

Her translational research focuses on the long-term maintenance of treatment effects when treatment is disrupted or challenged. This research seeks to take what is known in the science of behavior analysis and translate it to human populations. Specifically, she is evaluating how to best adapt behavioral treatments so severe problem behavior does not recur when the treatment program is removed or disrupted.

Schieltz wanted to join the College of Education because she enjoys working with students who have an interest in severe problem behavior and disability.

“Being a graduate of two different programs in the College of Education, I know that these interests cut across disciplines and these disciplines often work well together in doing what is best for children and families,” says Schieltz. “Returning to the College of Education allows me to foster that passion and collegiality between what is learned in the classroom and what is applied in practice.”

Schieltz is looking forward to building the relationship between the programs in the College of Education and the Clinics at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

“Iowa offers a unique set of experiences for students, and I am excited to be at the forefront of those experiences,” says Schieltz.