Our research drives innovations in education, counseling, assessment, and leadership. We are effectively preparing the next generation of exceptional teachers, bettering rural mental health support through innovative tele-medicine, facilitating anti-racism research focused on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the classroom, at the college level, and nationally.

Research Spotlight

Katharine Broton discusses her research on food insecurity. 

Gerta Bardhoshi addresses the mental health needs of students.

Sherry Watt discusses difficult dialogues, and alumni Eddie Moore, Jr. and Laura Gallo address equity in education.

Centers and Initiatives

The college houses numerous world-class research centers and initiatives that focus on an array of topics pertinent to education and society. 

For a complete listing of our research centers and initiatives, please visit:

Centers and Initiatives

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Belin-Blank Center

The Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development is a comprehensive center focused on nurturing potential and inspiring excellence through myriad programs and services.

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Scanlan Center for School Mental Health

The Scanlan Center for School Mental Health expands support for mental health to Pre-K-12 educators and schools across the state. This includes training, resources, and outreach to support student mental health so all students, educators, and schools can be successful and resilient.

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Iowa Reading Research Center

The Iowa Reading Research Center (IRRC) works to improve the literacy proficiency of PK-12 students and conducts research in practical settings in order to evaluate the effectiveness of literacy practices and the usefulness of assessments for guiding literacy instruction.

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Multicultural Initiatives Research Team (MCI)

The Multicultural Initiatives Research Team (MCI) researches ways of being in relationship, constructs and strategies that disrupt dehumanizing practices that perpetuate inequity. 

Funded Grants

The College of Education faculty are currently engaged in over 65 federal, state, and private funded projects. Since 2005, COE faculty have been awarded over $25,000,000 for research, professional development, specialized student and leadership training, center development, and assessment/evaluation projects. 

For a complete listing of externally funded grants, please visit: 

Grants

In the News

Matthew Lira teaches students

Lira receives NSF grant to advance learning technologies

Thursday, August 25, 2022
Matthew Lira, assistant professor in educational psychology and learning sciences, was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to investigate the role of gesture using physical feedback in STEM learning.
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Wesely co-PI on $1 million grant helping to create National Resource Center for Translation and Global Literacy

College of Education Professor Pamela Wesely is part of a team of colleagues across campus who produced a successful proposal for the U.S. Department of Education, resulting in a $1 million grant – one of the largest humanities grants at Iowa.
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Mintz nets NSF grant to improve computerized adaptive tests

Thursday, July 29, 2021
Catherine “Catie” Mintz, a PhD candidate in the Educational Measurement and Statistics program, recently received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to pursue research on multidimensional computerized adaptive tests.
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UI grant builds mental health workforce serving rural youth

Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Iowa youth living in rural, medically underserved communities will gain access to more mental and behavioral health experts thanks to a nearly $2 million dollar grant led by experts in the College of Education and other campus and community partners.
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Didion receives Carver Trust grant to help at-risk readers

Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Elementary students with or at risk for reading disabilities will improve their fluency thanks to a new $85,000 Carver Trust grant. Lisa Didion, College of Education special education assistant professor, is the grant principal investigator.
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Garringer receives Distinguished Research Administrator Award

Friday, March 26, 2021
Teresa Garringer, the Research Support Manager in the Grant and Research Services Center (GRSC), was recently recognized for her dedication to supporting research when she received the Distinguished Research Administrator Award.