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Welcome to the team, Dr. Alex Mason!

Alex Mason, CYFS research professor

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.” Full Article

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. Full Article

Nebraska Extension early childhood team develops quality child care guide

Nebraska Extension’s “Child Care Essentials: Choosing Quality Child Care in Nebraska” guide is available online and will be provided to parents of newborns at all Nebraska hospitals. Learn more about this project in the CYFS Research Network.

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. Full Article

Researchers collaborate at Early Head Start University Partnership Data Camp

Researchers from four universities involved in the Early Head Start University Partnership met May 4-5 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to discuss expanding the knowledge base of early childcare and education programs. From left, HyeonJin Yoon, Lorey Wheeler, Ann Michele Stacks, Sue Sheridan, Johayra Bouza, Beth Van Horne, Sandra Scruggs and Lisa Knoche. Learn more about the project in the CYFS Research Network.

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. Full Article

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.” Full Article

2022 Summit on Research in Early Childhood helps connect research, practice, policy

Participants gather during the 2022 CYFS Summit on Research in Early Childhood at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center on April 13. View photo gallery.

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. Full Article

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.” Full Article

Video available of MAP Academy presentation featuring Jessica DeCuir-Gunby

Jessica DeCuir-Gunby, head of the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences at North Carolina State University, led the Spring 2022 Nebraska Methodology Workshop Series April 7 and 8.

The two-day event was presented by the Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics. Full Article