Educational Psychology Department Chair

Biography

Sharon L. Nichols is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in learning theory, motivation, development, and research methods and has authored over three dozen books, journal articles, and book chapters related to youth development, motivation, and education policy. She is the co-author of Collateral damage: How high-stakes testing corrupts America’s schools (with D. C. Berliner, Harvard Education Press, 2007). Her current work focuses on the impact of test-based accountability on teachers, their instructional practices, and adolescent motivation and development. She is the current Vice President of Division 15 of the American Psychological Association and chairs the LGBTQA+ Faculty and Staff Association at UTSA (Pride FSA).

Sharon Nichols, Ph.D.
Professor and Department Chair

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Educational Psychology Faculty

Biography

Felicia Castro-Villarreal is an Associate Professor of School Psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology. Dr.Castro-Villarreal was born and raised in Robstown, Texas, home of the Cotton Pickers. She is the daughter of the legendary Coach Steve Castro. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from St. Mary’s University. Dr. Castro-Villarreal earned a Ph.D. in School Psychology from Oklahoma State University and completed her doctoral internship with the APA-accredited Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Psychological Services Department. Dr. Castro-Villarreal specializes and has research interests in multicultural assessment and practice and consultation with school staff. She currently holds licensure as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) and is currently working toward becoming a Licensed Psychologist.

Felicia Castro-Villarreal, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

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Biography

Heather Davis is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Educational Psychology. Dr. Davis earned her Doctorate in Educational Psychology (emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism) at Texas A&M University. She brings experience from clinical leadership positions specializing in providing evidence-based clinical services to autistic children, adolescents, and adults. Her work centers on training pre-service Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and improving access to clinical services for adults severely impacted by autism. Dr. Davis’s goal is to leverage her years of clinical experience to facilitate high-quality training for pre-service BCBAs and shape future leaders in the San Antonio community.

Heather Davis
Assistant Professor of Practice

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Biography

John L. Davis is an Associate Professor in the School Psychology Program, Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio.  Dr. Davis received a B.A. in Psychology from University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. in School Psychology from Texas State University and a Doctoral Degree in School Psychology from Texas A&M at College Station.

Dr. Davis has been fortunate to experience the profession of School Psychology as both a researcher and practitioner. He has had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of professional activities related to the practice of School Psychology. This broad set of experiences has helped him to gain a pragmatic understanding of the direct practice of School Psychology

Currently, Dr. Davis’s research goals to fit within a broad vision of School Psychology as a discipline that encompasses academic, cognitive, social, emotional and cultural dimensions of educating children within school settings. To this end, his general research focus falls under the heading of investigating effective intervention practices for children in schools. This includes both direct implementation of intervention strategies and evaluation of intervention approaches through meta-analysis.

John Davis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

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Biography

Trained as a research-practitioner, my scholarship is with diverse, at-risk, and underrepresented student groups. I have integrated theory and practice to explore strategic thinking and communication as demonstrated within the self-regulated and managed skills of mediation, problem solving, and engagement styles. This research has been published in counseling, student retention, and professional educator preparation journals. My work is aligned into three associated groupings: (1) at-risk and underrepresented student groups, (2) strength-based problem-solving – LIBRE Model use to facilitate academic, personal, and professional success, and (3) Engagement Style strategic thinking and social-emotional learning. My commitment is to explore new means and approaches toward inclusive, individual positive change and active community involvement. Citations for associated published articles, presentations, grant-related research projects, and books are found within my vita.

Norma Guerra, Ph.D.
Professor

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Biography

Dr. Karcher is the Associate Dean for Research in COEHD. His research focuses on school-based and cross-age peer mentoring as well as on adolescent connectedness and pair counseling. Michael authored the Cross-age Mentoring Program (CAMP) program, the implementation for which is described in CAMP Program Manual, Training Guide, Connectedness Curriculum, and Mentor Handbook, which have been reviewed by and are listed on the website of CrimeSolutions.gov (https://www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?ID=432). Dr. Karcher was most recently the Principal Investigator of a longitudinal follow-up on the SMILE study. Along with David L. DuBois, Dr. Karcher edited the Handbook of Youth Mentoring (2005, Sage; second edition in 2014). Michael co-edited with Michael Nakkula, Play, talk, learn: Promising practices in youth mentoring (2010), which first presented the TEAM framework. He is on the editorial board for three national journals, National Mentoring Resource Center and the research advisory boards of BBBSA, MENTOR, and the Christian Association for Youth Mentoring.

Michael Karcher, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Dean for Research

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Biography

Dr. Kirkpatrick is an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA), and is a certified teacher. Prior to attending graduate school, Dr. Kirkpatrick was a special education teacher in San Antonio. She received her Master's in Education degree in Special Education with a concentration in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Texas State University, and her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in ABA from Baylor University. Dr. Kirkpatrick's research focuses on using ABA in schools to support children with autism and other developmental disabilities, particularly those that are being educated alongside neurotypical peers. She leverages technology to deliver behavior analytic interventions to teach new skills such as academics, social skills, and play skills, as well as support behavior management. Her research also focuses on coaching and training teachers to implement evidence-based practices with their students.

Marie Kirkpatrick, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Dr. MacNaul is a Doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA), and a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) in the State of Texas. She received her Master of Arts degree in School Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida. Dr. MacNaul’s research aims to progress the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as develop non-obtrusive interventions based on the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA). She also conducts research related to multidisciplinary training and collaboration for higher education students and has conducted several projects evaluating university pedagogical teaching practices.

Hannah MacNaul, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Dr. Neely is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is also the ABA program director and Director of the Child and Adolescent Policy and Research Institute (https://capri.utsa.edu/). Dr. Neely earned her Doctorate (emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism) from Texas A&M University. Her work centers on progressing the treatment of children with autism with the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA therapy focuses on modifying the environment to teach skills, treat maladaptive behavior, and improve pro-social behaviors. In pursuit of this goal, she teaches within the University of Texas at San Antonio’s ABA program, conducts meaningful and impactful ABA research, and serves the community through her expertise as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral Level (BCBA-D). She is currently PI of project PLAAY (http://www.projectplaay.org/).

Leslie Neely, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Behavior Analysis

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Biography

Jeremy R. Sullivan is a Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Sullivan received a B.S. in Psychology from Sam Houston State University and a Ph.D. in School Psychology from Texas A&M University. He is a Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, and Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Prior to joining the faculty at UTSA, he worked as a school psychologist for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in Houston. Dr. Sullivan previously served as the department chair for Educational Psychology at UTSA, and he currently serves as Co-Editor of the journal Research and Practice in the Schools. His research interests focus on informed decision making in school psychology, including psychological assessment, measurement, and professional issues (e.g., training, supervision, and ethics). Dr. Sullivan's most recent co-edited book is Pediatric Neurotoxicology: Academic and Psychosocial Outcomes, published by Springer in 2016.

Jeremy Sullivan, Ph.D.
Professor

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Biography

Ian Thacker is an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His research examines teaching, learning, and teacher education in STEM. Specifically, he pursues three strands of research focused on: (1) mathematical skills that can be leveraged to support conceptual change about scientific topics, (2) the use of innovative technology for STEM teaching and learning, and (3) teacher beliefs and biases that contribute to gender- and race-based achievement gaps in STEM. Ian earned B.A. degrees in Mathematics and Physics, a M.A. in Mathematics and Science Education, a M.S. in Statistics, and earned his Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy with a concentration in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California. Prior to earning his Ph.D., Ian spent ten years teaching mathematics and physics to culturally and linguistically diverse students in Colorado and California. He has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, including first-authored publications in the Journal of Educational Psychology and Research in Mathematics Education.

Ian Thacker, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Victor Villarreal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He contributes primarily to the NASP-approved school psychology graduate program. Dr. Villarreal earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and a PhD in School Psychology from Texas A&M University. He is a Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, and Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Currently, Dr. Villarreal's research includes evaluation of how models of school service delivery may better benefit culturally and linguistically diverse students, as well as appropriate ways of adapting typical practice (including education and psychological intervention). Dr. Villarreal’s current research also includes an evaluation of methods for identifying students with the greatest need for behavioral and emotional supports and intervention.

Victor Villarreal, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

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Emeritus

Nancy Martin, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita

Patricia McGee, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Emerita

Carolyn Orange, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita

Paul Schutz, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus

College of Education and Human Development
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Phone: 210-458-4370 | education@utsa.edu