Program Highlights
Welcome to UF SPP!
The School Psychology program offers students a strong balance of academic training, research engagement, and professional community. Across coursework, conference presentations, collaborative projects, and cohort experiences, students build the knowledge and practical skills needed to support children, families, and schools. These highlights reflect the program’s commitment to scholarship, mentorship, and meaningful professional preparation.
Faculty Highlights
Awards
| Chris Anthony | Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award (2024-2025) |
| University of Florida Global Fellow (2024) | |
| B.O. Smith Endowed Professorship (2021-2023) | |
| Diane E. Haines Teaching Excellence Award (2021) | |
| John Kranzler | University of Florida Term Professor (2019-2021) |
| Katie Maki | University of Florida Fien Endowed Associate Professor (2025-2027) |
| Honorable Mention: Lightner Witmer Award, Division of School Psychology, American Psychological Association | |
| Excellence Award for Assistant Professors (2023) | |
| Diane E. Haines Teaching Excellence Award (2022) | |
| Article of the Year (2022): Barrett, C. A., Burns, M. K., Maki, K. E., Clinkscales, A., Hajovsky, D. B., & Spear, S. E. (2022). Language used in school psychological evaluation reports as predictors of SLD identification within a response to intervention model. School Psychology, 37(2):107-118. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000485. | |
| Joni Splett |
University of Florida Fien Endowed Associate Professor (2025-2027) |
| University of Florida Excellence Award for Assistant Professors (2019) |
Publications
- Anthony, C.J., Hassani, S., Schwab, S., Howe, A.P., Yost, M., Elliott, S.N., Hellmich, F. (2024). Examining the measurement invariance and validity of the SSIS SEL Brief + Mental Health Scales – student version in Austria and Germany. International Journal of Emotional Education, 16(1), 26-49.
- Anthony, C. J., Ogg, J., & Winkelman, E. H. (2024). Dynamics of a dynamic interrelationship: Exploring whether bidirectional learning behaviors – achievement relations differ across student-teacher relationship profiles. Journal of School Psychology, 104, 101308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2024.101308
- Frye, K. E., Winkelman, E. H., & Anthony, C. J. (2023). Evaluating the factor structure and measurement invariance of the ACES-SF. School Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000609
- Greene, A.K., Dougé, M.C.E., & Maki, K.E. (2024). State definitions, policies, and practices of gifted identification: What difference does a decade make? Gifted Child Quarterly.
- Kidd, J., Lord, R., Splett, J. W., Varner, M., Yost, M., Corbin, C. & Sonsteng-Person, M. (in press). Considerations for universal mental health screening in schools: A qualitative study of implementation determinants. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders.
- Maki, K.E., Codding, R.S., Zaslofsky, A.F., Dougé, M.C.E., & Thompson, S. (2024). The effects of task timing and complexity on students’ math strategy use and perceived task difficulty. School Psychology Review. Advanced online publication.
- Maki, K.E., Dougé, M.C.E., Rubenstein, L. M., Smith, L.M., & DeShon, L. (Under Review). Seeing both sides: A systematic review of identification methods for twice-exceptional learners. Exceptional Children.
- Splett, J. W., Perales, K., Pohlman, K., Alqueza, K., Collins, D., Gomez, N., Houston-Dial, R., Meyer, B. & Weist, M. D. (2024, June). Enhancing team functioning in schools’ multi-tiered systems of support. Eugene, Oregon: University of Oregon Press, Center for Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education). https://www.pbis.org/resource/enhancing-team-functioning-in-schools-multi-tiered-systems-of-support
- Taylor, H. G., Benkart, R. A., Vrantsidis, D. M., Quach, J., Busch, T. A., Horn, T. C., Neel, M. L., & Maitre, N. L. (2024). School readiness predictors of early academic achievement in children born very preterm. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1097/dbp.000000
Grants
- National Institutes of Health, National Institues of Mental Health (2024-2029). Online and offline multiverse spillover: Mapping the ecology of youth mental health (Co-I; PI Lynne, Co-PI Gabrielli, CO-Is Dorr, Corbin, and Zhang). Total awarded $3,762,832.
- Pacheco, M. & Anthony, C.J. (2024-2025). Project VITE: Virtue in Teacher Education. The Wake Forest Character Education Initiative, $40,571. Co-Principal Investigator
- DiPerna, J. C., Lei, P., & Anthony, C. J. (2020-2024). ACES-2: Development and Validation of the Revised Academic Competence Evaluation Scales. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (Measurement Goal), $1,399,785 ($158,987 subcontract to University of Florida). Co-Principal Investigator.
- Lane, H., Cheyney-Collante, Maki, K. E., Gonsalves, V., & Contesse, V. (2022-2026). Project DECODE: Developing Expertise and Collaborative Opportunities for Dyslexia Educators. Source: Office of Special Education Programs, Department of Education, Total amount: $1,250,000. Co-Principal Investigator.
- Maki, K. E., Antonenko, P., Valle, D., McNamara, J. P., & Guastello, A., (2021-2023). Understanding Math Anxiety: Examining Emotional Arousal, Visual Attention, and Cognition in Math Assessment. Source: University of Florida Research Opportunity Seed Fund, Total amount: $85,000. Principal Investigator.
- Miciak, J., Maki, K. E., Burns, M. K., & Taylor, P. (2023-2027). A longitudinal investigation of predictors and outcomes of specific learning disabilities identification. Source: Institute of Education Sciences, Total amount: $1,670,000. Co-Principal Investigator.
- Rubenstein, L. M., Maki, K. E., & Ridgley-Smith, L. (2022-2027). Project Brilliance: An Inclusive Approach to Identifying and Supporting Gifted Students with Disabilities. Source: Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, Total amount: $2,609,410. Co-Principal Investigator.
- Splett, J. Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (2023-2027). GatorConnect: Connecting in Gator Nation for the Mental Well-Being of Children, Families, and Schools (PI). Total awarded $4,892,176.
- Splett, J. University of Florida Office of Research, 2023 Research Opportunity Seed Fund (2023-24). Pilot testing the measurement strategy and study protocol of #CyberSpill: Risk and protective factors of cyberbullying and its real-time spillover (PI, Co-PI Gabrielli and Lynne). Total awarded $85,000.
- Splett, J. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (2022-27). Patient-Centered Equity Enhancements to Reduce Disproportionate Unmet Mental Health Needs of African American Children (PI with Co-PI Colleen Halliday). Total awarded $5,845,316.
- Splett, J. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, (2021- 2026). Florida Connect: Interconnecting school mental health and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports to improve middle school students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. Co-PI with PI Heather George. Total awarded $1,508,003. Subaward $224,940.
Professional Service
| Chris Anthony | Associate Editor, Journal of School Psychology |
| International Journal of Emotional Education (2024; Special Issue co-Editor; Assessing Children’s Social Emotional Learning to Guide Improvement Programs) | |
| School Psychology Review (2022; Special Issue co-Editor; Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Assessment within Tiered Decision-Making Frameworks: Advancing Research through Reflections on the Past Decade) | |
| Editorial Board Member, School Psychology Review; International Journal of Emotional Education | |
| Elayne Colón | Appointed to Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Accreditation Council |
| Member, Technical Advisory Committee, Florida Teacher Certification & Educational Leadership Exams, Florida Bureau of Postsecondary Assessment (invited) | |
| Joni Splett | Member, National Center on Intensive Intervention’s (NCII) Behavior Screening Technical Review Committee (2017) |
| Member, Interconnected Systems Framework National Workgroup, National Technical Assistance Center for Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports | |
| Editorial Board Member, School Mental Health | |
| Katie Maki | Associate Editor, Journal of School Psychology |
| Editorial Board Member, School Psychology Review |
Student Highlights
Presentations
- Elhaney, M., Franklin, C., & Maki, K. (2024, November). Project DECODE: Enhancing Student Outcomes Through School Psych and Special Education Collaboration. [Poster] Florida Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference, St. Augustine, FL.
- Campbell, R., Alqueza, K., Corbin, C., Holliday, C., Johnson, M., Kidd, J., Perales, K., Splett, J. W. (2024, December). Detecting and Preparing for Unexpected Effects of Implementing Universal Mental HealthScreening with Equity Enhancements. 2024 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, Orlando, FL
- Dougé, M. & Hatfield, S. February, 2024. Perceptions of the Intervention and Assessment of Academic Skills. National Association of School Psychologists, New Orleans, LA.
- Duncan, K., Gonsalves Rebello, M., Holmquist, A., Campbell, R. & Splett, J.W. (2024, December). The role of attitudes towards trauma-informed care in educator’s perceptions of personal and organizational acceptability. Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, Orlando, FL
- Greene, A.K., Dougé, M., Maki, K.E., Kranzler, J.H. February 2023. Gifted Eligibility and Identification Methods Across the United States. National Association of School Psychologists, Denver, CO
- Horn, T., Winkelman, E. H., Yost, Kozlowski, K., Murthy, H., & Anthony, C. J. (2023, February). That’s valid, but let’s be fair: Fairness and validity evidence of SEL assessments [Paper presentation]. National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA.
- Horn, T.C., Winkelman, E., Yost, M., Kozlowski, K., Anthony, C.J. (2024, February). Validity and Fairness Evidence of Commonly Recommended SEL Assessments. [Paper presentation]. Annual Conference of the National Association of School Psychologists, New Orleans, LA.
- Kidd, J., Lord, R., Alfonso, Z., Abshier, D. & Splett, J. W. (2024). Preliminary Results of the Interconnected Systems Framework in Middle Schools. Presented at the National Association of School Psychologists 2024 Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA.
- Milam, A.N., Ateyah, W.A., Alqueza, K.L., Harris, M., Williams, J., & Romero, R.A. (2024, August). Utilizing Culturally Responsive and Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices in Autism Assessment [Critical Conversation Presentation]. APA 2024 Convention, Seattle, WA, United States
- Mathews, H.M., Milam, A.N., Gíani, M., & Bason, F.J. (2024, November). Understanding Children’s Perspectives on Special Education Teaching Quality [Symposium]. Council for Exceptional Children: Teacher Education Division Conference. Pittsburgh, PA
- Milam, A.N., Kozlowski, K., & Romero, R.A. (2024, November). Examining Autistic Perspectives in Social Skills Intervention Research [Poster]. Council for Exceptional Children: Teacher Education Division Conference. Pittsburgh, PA.
- Rebello, M. G.,; Silva, S. V.; I.S.; Sanches, Z.M.; Melo, M.H.S. (2024, September). Formative assessment of Project Family at School: a school-based program to promote parenting skills [Conference Presentation]. 15th EUSPR Conference and Members’ Meeting, Cremona, Italy
- Splett, J.W., Kidd, J., Alqueza, K., Corbin, C., Johnson, M., Perales, K., & Halliday, C. A. (2024). Detecting and Preparing for Unexpected Effects of Implementing Universal Mental Health Screening with Equity Enhancements. Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, Orlando, FL.
- Stevens, G., Hatfield, S., Milam, A.N., Maki, K.E., Newell, K.W., & Zaslofsky, A.F. (2024, February). A Novel Synthesis of Single-Case Design Reading Interventions: Measures of Effect [Poster]. National Association of School Psychologists Conference, New Orleans, LA.
- Trainor, K. M., Ceneus, L., Gunn, S., MacDonald, M., Oquendo, J., Parsons, H., Quintero, E., Rivers, K., Romelus, J., & Thomas, D. (2024, August). Helping My Child Excel: Healthy Habits for Back to School Success with Gator Connect. Invited presentation for the families and guardians of Joseph Williams Elementary School, School Boards of Alachua Co.
- Trainor, K., Parsons, H., Edwards, A., Machado, M. M., Jean-Philippe, S., & Splett, J. W. (2024, December). Interdisciplinary Training in School Mental Health: School Psych, School Counseling & Mental Health Counseling Preparation. Presented at the Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, Orlando, FL.
- Woods, B., Dougé, M.C.E., Newpower, A.J., Nelson, K.J., Maki, K.E., Zaslofsky, A.F., Codding, R., & Hall, G. (2023, February). Development of a Math Metacognition to Support Math Learning. National Association of School Psychologists, Denver, CO
- Zambrano, T. (2023, July 8). Evaluating the impact of ADOS-2 usage on district-level ASD prevalence rates. 44th Annual Conference of the International School Psychology Association, Bologna, Italy
Student Testimonials
Photos
NASP 2025 Conference Experience
Academic Skill Development Presentation
SEL Assessment Research Presentation
