Andy Garbacz, associate professor of educational psychology and co-director of the School Psychology Program in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, led the first presentation of the Fall 2022 Methodology Applications Series Sept. 30.
Category: Events & Announcements
Welcome to the team, Dr. Alex Mason!

Name: W. Alex Mason
Title: Research Professor
Hometown: Fort Riley, Kansas
Where did you work prior to joining CYFS? What was your role there, and what did it entail?
“I was previously at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee, as a professor, Division of Epidemiology, in the Department of Preventive Medicine. One of my responsibilities was to lead a large-scale pregnancy cohort study of 1,503 mother-child dyads who have been followed — so far — into children’s early adolescent years with extensive multi-method data collection, including surveys, observations, neuropsychological tests and biospecimens.”
NAECR selects 2022-23 Policy Fellows
The Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research has selected six faculty members to serve as Policy Fellows for the 2022-23 academic year.
The NAECR Policy Fellows Program is designed to educate early childhood researchers on policy processes, impacts and relationships to research; to provide policymakers with insight into the latest early childhood research at the University of Nebraska; and to generate collaboration among researchers and policymakers to develop effective research agendas that enrich early childhood experiences.
Nebraska Extension early childhood team develops quality child care guide

Access to quality child care is essential for working parents. Early care and education settings — including homes, child care centers and out-of-school programs — help Nebraska communities thrive by contributing to a strong workforce, while also providing children with safe and nurturing environments that foster their learning and development.
Researchers collaborate at Early Head Start University Partnership Data Camp

Research teams from four universities gathered May 4 and 5 at the Nebraska Union to discuss expanding knowledge and support of Early Head Start and other early care and education programs.
During the two-day Early Head Start University Research Partnership Data Camp, researchers collaborated in-person and virtually on a variety of topics, including parent-teacher relationships, infant/toddler well-being in Early Head Start center-based care and provider professional development.
Video available for MAP Academy presentation featuring Catherine Garcia
Catherine Garcia, assistant professor of human development and family science at Syracuse University, led the final presentation of the Spring 2022 Methodology Applications Series May 6.
Video is now available of Garcia’s virtual presentation, “Considering Diversity and Intersectionality within Latina/o/x Aging and Health.”
2022 Summit on Research in Early Childhood helps connect research, practice, policy

Creating connections among early childhood research, practice and policy — and how each can enhance the lives of young children and their families — provided the central theme of the 2022 CYFS Summit on Research in Early Childhood.
Nearly 200 attendees, including researchers from across the University of Nebraska system, practitioners, administrators, community partners and policymakers, gathered April 13 at Nebraska Innovation Campus for the daylong, sixth biennial summit, which highlighted the latest research to advance early childhood education and development, and implications for practice and policy.
Video available for MAP Academy presentation featuring Keyonna King
Keyonna King, assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, led the first presentation of the Spring 2022 Methodology Applications Series April 15.
Video is now available of King’s virtual presentation, “Leveraging Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to Enhance Design, Innovation and Cultural Appropriateness.”