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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.” 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

Multi-institutional study explores how students approach course work once class ends

As learning environments increasingly rely on online course formats that work with busy college student schedules — particularly after disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — a better understanding of how students complete out-of-class assignments is crucial to ensuring equitable opportunities for academic success. Full Article

Misperceptions may increase problem drinking, dating violence among LGBTQ+ youth

As researchers strive to develop and expand affirming prevention and intervention efforts for sexual and gender minority youth, an ongoing project’s preliminary findings are bringing into focus the impacts of dating violence and problem drinking — and the strengths of LGBTQ+ youth. Full Article

Study: Sleep deficits add up during busy seasons for farmers, ranchers

As any agricultural worker will readily admit, occasional sleep deprivation is all part of the job.

But for farmers and ranchers who routinely work around livestock and machinery, bad things can happen when sleepiness leads to lack of concentration, slower reaction times or distractibility. Full Article

Interdisciplinary program takes long-range view of visual impairment instruction

According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Ophthalmology, the number of American preschool children with visual impairment is projected to increase by more than 25 percent in the coming decades, with most visual impairment resulting from simple uncorrected vision problems that interfere with clear sight. Full Article

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. Full Article