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.
Collaboratives and Initiatives
The Rural Psychology Collaborative seeks to increase access to psychological services for rural Iowans through partnerships with rural communities throughout the state of Iowa.
The Multicultural Initiatives Research Team (MCI) researches ways of being in relationship, constructs and strategies that disrupt dehumanizing practices that perpetuate inequity.
Research Centers
The College houses numerous world-class research centers that focus on an array of topics pertinent to education and society.
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.
The Center for Advanced Studies in Measurement and Assessment (CASMA) pursues research-based initiatives that lead to advancements in the methodology and practice of educational measurement and assessment.
The Center for Research on Undergraduate Education (CRUE) implements and disseminates research and scholarship that fosters an understanding of effective undergraduate education.
Funded Grants
Our 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.
The Integrating Behavioral Health into Rural Medicine project supplements and complements ongoing Counseling Psychology (CP) Ph.D. training efforts and provides new field experiences and practicum opportunities for CP doctoral students to provide mental and behavioral health care to underserved populations living in rural areas across eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
Implementing the STEM Excellence and Leadership Program to Understand the Role of Local Agency in Broadening High-Potential, Rural Students’ STEM Participation and Achievement prepares rural, high potential middle school (grades 6–8) students for advanced STEM educational pathways.
The Interdisciplinary Training Project in Special Education and School Psychology (SP2) addresses national, regional, and state shortages of special education and school psychologists by preparing them in intensive intervention and assessment for school-aged children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs.
For a complete list of externally funded projects, please visit our grant database page:
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Outreach and Engagement
Our research is fully entwined with our outreach and engagement. Beyond research partnerships and externally-funded projects, the college engages communities in a myriad of ways. See the full list here: