Culturally Responsive Evidence-based Practices in School Psychology

Dr. Amy Violante graduated in June 2024 with her PhD in School Psychology. She completed her dissertation titled "“Real Collaboration is Empowering: Faciltiators, Barriers, and Benefits of a Community-School Partnership in an Indigenous Community" and her pre-doctoral internship at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (APA-accredited) in Texas. Dr. Violante is currently a clinical assistant professor and behavioral health provider as part of the UM RAISE Initiative.

Awards Received While at UM:

• UM Bertha Morton Scholarship ($3,000)
• PEO Scholar Award-International Chapter ($20,000)
• APA Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship (Renewed; $23,000)
• APA Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship ($23,000)
• APF COGDOP Graduate Research Scholarship ($2,000)
• NASP Graduate Student Research Grant ($1,000)

Dr. Diana Diaków graduated in July 2022 with her PhD in School Psychology. She completed her dissertation titled "Humanitarian Workers’ Perspectives on Mental Health and Resilience on Refugee Youth: Implications for School Psychology" and her pre-doctoral internship at The Children's Center (APA-accredited) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Awards Received While at UM:

• PEO International Peace Scholarship ($12,000)

• Soroptimist International Graduate International Student Scholarship ($1000)

• Utah Regional Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: Autism Enhancement Training ($3000)

• PEO International Peace Scholarship ($10,000)

• ASUM Research and Creative Scholarship ($1000)

• Soroptimist International Graduate Intenrational Student Scholarship ($1000)

• Trainers of School Psychology Graduate Award ($450)

• Ridge Scholarship in Health or Healtcare and Humanities ($1000)

Dr. Olivia Holter graduated in July 2020 with her PhD in School Psychology. She completed her dissertation titled "School-based Racial Microaggressions and Symptoms of Depression Among Native American Young Adults" and her pre-doctoral internship at Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium. Upon graduation, Dr. Holter is an assistant professor (academic medical) at University of Utah Health.

Dr. Katie Ahlers graduated in July 2019 with her PhD in Clinical Psychology. She completed her dissertation titled "Considering Trauma in Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Evaluations in Children: A Qualitative Inquiry" and her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Arizona. Dr. Ahlers was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Leadership Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Dartmouth College.

Dr. Heather Halko graduated in July 2019 with her PhD in Clinical Psychology. She completed her dissertation titled "Treating Trauma within Rural Schools: An Implementation Science Perspective" and her pre-doctoral internship at University of New Mexico. She weas a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School Judge Baker Children’s Center and is currently a clinical psychologist at Benefits Health System in Great Falls, Montana.

Dr. Zach Shindorf graduated in July 2019 with a Ph.D. in School Psychology.  He completed his dissertation titled "Investigating the Effectiveness of Parent Implemented Interventions in Improving the Social Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder" and his pre-doctoral internship at Boys Town through the Nebraska Consortium of Professional Psychology (APA-accredited). Dr. Shindorf completed a post-doctoral fellow at Brown University Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Alpert Medical School. He is currently assistant clinical professor at University Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Alpert Medical School, as well as a psychologist for the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities partial hospitalization program.

Dr. Erin Yosai graduated in July 2017 and is currently Assistant Professor of School Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado. She completed her dissertation titled "Further Investigating the Underlying Attentional Process of Brief Mindfulness-based Interventions." After her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Illinois Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) through the Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium (APA-accredited and NASP-approved), Dr. Yosai is became a Clinical Counselor at DRES where she served as the director of intake, assessment, and therapy services for students with disabilities at the University of Illinois. Currently, Dr. Yosai is an associate professor and  clinical training director for the Educational Psychology department at the University of Kansas.