School Psychology Core Faculty

Co-Directors, Drs. David E. McIntosh and Barbara Rothlishberg, have administered the program since August 2008. Administration of the program is conducted with the counsel of the five other school psychology core faculty and the department chair. The core faculty include Drs. Andrew Davis (FTE = 100%), Raymond Dean (FTE = 100%), Maria Hernandez-Finch (FTE = 100%), David McIntosh (50% FTE), Renee Vaux-Nivens (50% FTE), Eric Pierson (100% FTE), and Barbara Rothlisberg (FTE = 50%). The program is committed to preparing school psychologists who integrate theory, research, and practice in their implementation and evaluation of psychological services and in their production of applied research. The program faculty, through their unique perspectives and experiences, create a learning environment that encourages students to experiment with different theoretical perspectives and approaches to research. Faculty pursuits reflect a range of interests, including neuropsychology, measurement, statistics, preschool assessment, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and school retention. Following the scientist-practitioner model, each of the faculty members takes an eclectic perspective. Furthermore, all of the faculty have extensive and varied applied experiences. All core members have been and continue to be involved in providing direct psychological services, consultation, and research with an applied focus.

School Core Psychology Faculty Educational Backgrounds and Research Interests

Andrew S. Davis, Ph.D., HSPP
University of Northern Colorado (2003)
Associate Professor of Psychology-Educational Psychology
Director of Doctoral Internships
Licensure: Licensed Psychologist and Licensed School Psychologist
Research Interests: Neuropsychological Assessment for Intervention

Raymond S. Dean, Ph.D., HSPP, ABPP
Arizona State University (1978)
George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor
Licensure: Licensed Psychologist
Research Interests: Neuropsychology Prediction, Parental Complications, CHC
Functional Neuropsychology of Cognitive Learning, Psychopathology

Maria Hernandez-Finch, Ph.D.
University of South Carolina (2002)
Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology
Practicum Coordinator
Licensure: Licensed School Psychologist

Research Interests: Cultural Competency, Assessment, Gifted, and Cultural Responsive Assessment and Intervention

David McIntosh, Ph.D., HSPP, ABPP
Ball State University (1990)
Meeks Distinguished Professor
Co-Director, Doctoral Program in School Psychology
Director, Psychoeducational, Diagnosis, and Intervention Clinic
Licensure: Licensed Psychologist and Licensed School Psychologist
Research Interests: Identification, Assessment and Treatment of Autism, Psychological
Assessment 

Ball State University (2009)

Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology

Licensure: Licensed Psychologist and Licensed School Psychologist

Eric Eugene Pierson, Ph.D., HSPP
Illinois State University (2007)
Assistant Professor of Psychology-Educational Psychology
Licensure: Licensed Psychologist and Licensed School Psychologist
Research Interests: Assessment, Personality Development and Assessment, and Contextual
Factors Influencing the Training and Practice of School Psychology

Barbara A. Rothlisberg, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin (1982)
Professor of Psychology-Educational Psychology
Director, M.A./Ed.S. Program in School Psychology
Co-Director, Doctoral Program in School Psychology
Licensure: Licensed School Psychologist
Research Interests: School Psychology, Individual Cognitive Assessment, Learning Disabilities,
Reading Disabilities, and School Factors Related to Academic Success

Co-Director Responsibilities

Dr. David McIntosh is primarily responsible for the day-to-day operation of the program including direct contact with students about issues of admission, advising, file maintenance, committee development, and yearly review. Therefore, students should contact Dr. McIntosh for all requests or issues not related to program assessment.

Dr. Barbara Rothlisberg is primarily responsible for program data and assessment including development of student surveys, management of rGrade, data collection and entry, and data analysis for programmatic review.

Both Drs. McIntosh and Rothlisberg are serving 5-year terms as co-directors (ending in July 2012), which are renewable. In the future, the Co-Directors or Director will serve renewable 4-year terms. The Co-Directors or Director will be selected by the School Psychology Core Faculty with final approval by the Department Chair and the Dean of Teachers College. Assistant professors are not eligible to serve as a Co-Director or Director of the Doctoral Program. Prior to the beginning of the third year of a term, the School Psychology Core faculty will identify the next Co-Directors or Director. If the selected Co-Directors or Director are new to the position, the current Co-Directors or Director will mentor and transition responsibilities to the incoming Co-Director or Director during the course of the fourth year. This process will help ensure a smooth transition from one director to another.