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Webster School of Education Applied Psychology Graduate Students Receive Awards for Helping Communities and Individuals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In a virtual ceremony on October 6th, ATOP Meaningful World recognized twenty-two students and alums of Webster's Applied Educational Psychology and School Psychology programs who have done exceptional work during the COVID-19 pandemic. These students and alums have been collaborating on psychology-related COVID-19 projects to support local and global communities. The remarkable contributions of each award recipient are detailed below.

A word from Dr. Deborah A. Stiles: School of Education Faculty Member, Human Rights Fellow, and Psychologist

Webster University’s Applied Educational Psychology and School Psychology graduate programs are dedicated to supporting the well-being, rights, and learning needs of children everywhere. We realized that the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic was a call to action and we began making informative presentations to share with others. Webster University Chancellor Elizabeth Stroble and Board of Trustees member Kristin Johnson have asked us to serve as emotional health resources at Webster University during the pandemic.

Many students and I have read the work of Dr. Ani Kalayjian, the Founder and Director of the Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention (ATOP) Meaningful World. This international organization is associated with the United Nations and it is dedicated to preventing trauma and supporting the well-being of communities and individuals.

After we became aware of Dr. Kalayjian’s COVID-19 workshops, support group meetings, and Youtube videos, we invited her to be a guest speaker for us. In August of 2020, Dr. Ani Kalayjian and Lorraine Simmons declared the award recipients “Real Life Heroes” for their work on the "front lines" of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Kalayjian suggested that we start the #ReallifeHeroes campaign.

Learn more about the School of Education and our program offerings on our website and connect with us on social media for regular updates and opportunities! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Kaori Chaki is a Japanese instructor, an Applied Educational Psychology graduate student, and she has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. She authored a webinar, The impact of COVID-19 xenophobia on children, and she co-authored a webinar, Child psychology, international children’s rights, and age-group approaches to COVID-19. She has translated many COVID-19 materials into Japanese and she compared the COVID-19 responses of young adolescents in Hokkaido, Japan, with those of young adolescents in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. She is currently working on a research project titled,"The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals."
Kristine Golobic is a graduate of the M.A. in Applied Educational Psychology and she is scheduled to complete the Ed.S. in School Psychology in May of 2022. Throughout her program, she has been helping others and during her school psychology practicum she has successfully adapted to the challenging COVID-19 educational environment. Ms. Golobic has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since June of 2020 and she is an author on the webinar, Self-care in the time of COVID-19: Suggestions for educators and mental health professionals.
Xavior Baker is an Applied Educational Psychology graduate student whose goal is to become a school psychologist. He has been serving as a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. He co-authored a webinar, Child psychology, international children’s rights, and age-group approaches to COVID-19 and he is currently working on a research project titled,"The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals."
Laketa Winn is a graduate of the M.A. in Applied Educational Psychology and the Ed.S. in Applied Educational Psychology: School Psychology. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. She has participated in advanced training focused on school psychology, psychoeducational assessment, and teleconsultation during the coronavirus pandemic. She was a co-author on a webinar, NASP’s Responses to COVID-19 and How School Psychologists Can Be Supportive of Children and Families. During her school psychology internship and now as a practicing school psychologist, she is successfully adapting to the challenging COVID-19 educational environment.
Sheila Turan has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. She translated COVID-19 materials into Bosnian and helped to create a webinar, A Multicultural, International, and Culturally-Grounded Approach to Covid-19 and Children’s Mental Health. She is currently teaching English Language Learners, K to 6th grade (5 years to 12-year-olds). She helps them to adjust to the challenges of learning English during a global pandemic.
Rhonda Bluehen-Unger is a graduate of the M. A. in Applied Educational Psychology and she holds a graduate certificate in Fostering Resilience in "At Risk" Children and Youth. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since August of 2020. She has been working with children, adolescents, and educators in the COVID-19 educational environment. She is a specialist in trauma-informed approaches and she will be a guest speaker on COVID-19 and providing therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents.
Amanda Fleming is an Applied Educational Psychology student who has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since June of 2020. She is an author of a webinar, Self-Care During a Global Pandemic: Lessons from the Life and Work of Ani Kalayjian. She has been working with young children in a challenging COVID-19 educational environment in the Saint Louis area. She is currently working on a research project titled,"The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals."
Tierra Metcalfe is an Applied Educational Psychology student whose goal is to become a school psychologist. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. Tierra Metcalfe has been working with young children in a challenging COVID-19 educational environment in the Saint Louis area, and she has discovered ways to meet their social-emotional and learning needs. She is currently working on a research project titled, "The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals."
Keary Ritchie is a graduate of the M. A. in Applied Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Immigrant and Refugee Children and Families. She also holds a graduate certificate in Fostering Resilience in "At-Risk" Children and Youth and she has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. She has been working with English language learners in the COVID-19 educational environment in Missouri and Virginia. She is the co-author of a webinar titled, "COVID-19 Is Impacting Two of the World’s Most Vulnerable Populations: Refugee Children and Unaccompanied Minors." She will be a guest speaker on COVID-19 and her innovative approaches to building an educational community with children on Zoom.
Erica Suchland is a graduate of the M. A. in Applied Educational Psychology who has been a coronavirus pandemic emotional health resource since March of 2020. She has co-authored two webinars: Child psychology, international children’s rights, and age-group approaches to COVID-19 and Building resilience in “at-risk” children during a global pandemic: The importance of gaining new professional knowledge and practicing self-care. She was also a guest lecturer on adapting the special education classroom to accommodate COVID-19 regulations, while also incorporating Perry’s Six Core Strengths for Healthy Child Development. She is currently working on a research project titled, "The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals."
Sarah Brown is a graduate of the M.A. in Applied Educational Psychology and she has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since June of 2020. In addition to her expertise in applied educational psychology, she also holds a degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. She was the author of a webinar, Helping Muslim students cope with grief: A guide for teachers and counselors. This webinar is especially meaningful during the times of the coronavirus pandemic.
Valeri Hakobyan is an Applied Educational Psychology student who has served as a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. He translated COVID-19 resources into Armenian, including translating the children’s COVIBOOK by Manuela Molina into Armenian. He co-authored a webinar, The psychological impact of COVID-19 on children: Perspectives of two international students from Armenia. He is currently working on a research project titled,"The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals."
Haleigh Newcomer is a graduate of the M.A. in Applied Educational Psychology and she will complete the Ed.S. in School Psychology in May of 2021. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. She was a co-author on a webinar, NASP’s Responses to COVID-19 and How School Psychologists Can Be Supportive of Children and Families. During her school psychology practicum and now as a school psychology intern Haleigh Newcomer is successfully adapting to the challenging COVID-19 educational environment.
Sara Price is an Applied Educational Psychology graduate student whose goal is to become a school psychologist. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since August of 2020. She has been working with young children a challenging COVID-19 educational environment in the Saint Louis area. She is currently working on a research project titled,"The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals."
Diana Nersisyan is an Applied Educational Psychology student who has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. She translated COVID-19 materials into Armenian and helped Armenian young adolescents to deal with COVID-19. She co-authored a webinar, The psychological impact of COVID-19 on children: Perspectives of two international students from Armenia. She is currently working on a research project titled,"The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals."
Kristen White is an Applied Educational Psychology student whose goal is to become a school psychologist. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since June of 2020. She co-authored a webinar, Building Resilience in “At Risk” Children During a Global Pandemic: The Importance of Gaining New Professional Knowledge and Practicing Self Care. Kristin White’s COVID-19 adaptations with young children were recently featured in the Webster University School of Education Newsletter. She is currently working on a research project titled,"The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals."
Courtney LeCompte is a graduate of the M.A. in Applied Educational Psychology and will complete the Ed.S. in School Psychology in May of 2022. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since June of 2020. She was the author of a webinar, Mindfulness: From Eastern Roots to Universal Applications this webinar is especially meaningful during the times of the coronavirus pandemic. During her school psychology practicum, Courtney LeCompte is helping others and successfully adapting to the challenging COVID-19 educational environment.
Brittany Copple is an Applied Educational Psychology student who is earning a graduate certificate in Fostering Resilience in "At Risk" Children and Youth. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since August of 2020. She has been working with young adolescents in a challenging COVID-19 educational environment in the Saint Louis area. She is currently working on a research project titled,"The Impact of COVID-19 on PreK -12 Teachers and School-Based Mental Health Professionals.
Maria Escalona is a graduate of the M.A. in Applied Educational Psychology and she is currently an Ed.S. in School Psychology student. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since March of 2020. She has translated many COVID-19 materials into Spanish and she is the author of a webinar, COVID-19: Perspectives of an international school psychology student from Venezuela. She was a co-author on a webinar, NASP’s Responses to COVID-19 and How School Psychologists Can Be Supportive of Children and Families.
Miesha Houston is a health educator and graduate student enrolled in the Ed.S. in School Psychology. She is scheduled to complete the Ed.S. in School Psychology in May of 2022. She has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since June of 2020. During her work as a health educator and in her school psychology practicum, Miesha Houston is helping others and successfully adapting to the challenging COVID-19 educational environment.
Erica Vaughn is a graduate of the M. A. in Applied Educational Psychology and she is scheduled to complete the Ed.S. in School Psychology in May of 2022. Throughout her program and during her school psychology practicum, Ms. Vaughn is dedicated to helping others. Erica Vaughn has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since June of 2020 and she has successfully adapted to the challenging COVID-19 educational environment.
Kelly Ann Brown is a graduate of the M.A. in Applied Educational Psychology and she has been a COVID-19 emotional health resource since June of 2020. She helped to facilitate a Zoom meeting with Dr. Ani Kalayjian, the founder of Meaningful World and the Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention. Kelly Ann Brown works with children who have special needs and she is successfully adapting to the challenging COVID-19 educational environment.
Dr. Debbie Stiles is a Professor of Applied Educational Psychology and School Psychology at Webster University, where she is now in her 40th year of teaching. She is a human rights fellow, research scientist, Fulbright scholar, and licensed psychologist who has dedicated her professional life to understanding and helping vulnerable children and adolescents. Over the years, Webster University encouraged her to visit schools, consult, and conduct research in thirteen countries of the world. She is currently serving as Co-Chair of the American Psychological Association (APA) International Psychology COVID-19 Task Force for Training and Education.
Dr. Ani Kalayjian is the Founder and President of the Association for Trauma Outreach & Prevention, Meaningfulworld. She is an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the author of several books including the internationally acclaimed, Mass Trauma and Emotional Healing around the World: Rituals and Practices for Resilience and Meaning-Making. She is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and the Chair of the APA International Psychology Division’s Disaster Mitigation and Violence Prevention Committee. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, she organized a weekly COVID-19 support group meeting.