Jacob P. Gross is the Director for the Center for Economic Education and facilities the FATES Workshop. He is an Associate Professor of Higher Education Administration and serves as Editor of the Journal of Student Financial Aid. He served as a foster parent for a number of years and his goal with the workshop is to mentor and collaborate with students committed to fostering academic attainment and removing barriers to access and success for all students, but especially those that remain marginalized in US higher education.
Dr. Casey George is an Associate Professor of Higher Education Administration at the University of Louisville where she teaches graduate students in courses such as Diversity in Higher Education and Education Policy and Equity. Her research agenda and approach to scholarship incorporates an equity perspective, and often focuses on traditionally underserved and/or marginalized populations, such as racial and ethnic minorities, low-income, and first-generation students. Dr. George’s research contributes to the Affordability and Transparency Initiative, which is a set of research projects that aim to improve the accuracy and accessibility of information pertaining to college costs, with a focus on how complex policies and procedures may disproportionately affect underrepresented students and further contribute to social stratification. She has conducted research on financial awareness and preparation of prospective college students and their families as they navigate the processes of learning about college affordability and payment options. For the last 15 years, she has also conducted research on complex differential tuition policies and lack of transparency around these policies, which impact individuals’ understanding of the potential costs of college. Her other research focuses on sense of belonging and campus climate, ROTC Programs and Cadets, and programs and policies that impact postsecondary access and equity.
Jason Immekus is professor and chair of the Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development at the University of Louisville. His academic training is in educational psychology (Ph.D., Purdue University, 2006). His research addresses issues related to test score validity regarding the interpretation and uses of scores for designated purposes and diverse groups, which includes considerations for scale development. Specifically, this work includes the use of latent variable modeling procedures, namely item response theory and structural equation modeling, to investigate the psychometric properties of cognitive and noncognitive instruments, including their functioning across diverse groups (e.g., disability, race). He has been awarded over $3 million in federal grants and served as external evaluator on projecting totaling over $9 million from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Defense, among others. He has experience leading multidisciplinary teams in the development of data management systems, educational programs, and program evaluation. He also is on the editorial board of the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, Journal of Experimental Education, Frontiers in Psychology, and European Association of Psychological Assessment, and teaches courses in statistics, program evaluation, research methods, scale development, and psychometrics.
Chelsie Temmen is an assistant professor in the Counseling and Human Development department at the University of Louisville. Her academic training is in developmental psychology (Ph.D., University of Nebraska – Lincoln, 2018). Dr. Temmen’s expertise lies in the social development of youth, and her research interests focus on emphasizing the importance of parental involvement to youth health and well-being and identifying the strengths of parental involvement in families from diverse environments and underrepresented populations. She also has expertise in applied structural equation modeling, longitudinal data analyses, and survey methodology. Dr. Temmen serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology and Frontiers in Developmental Psychology. She teaches courses in lifespan and child development.
Jeff Valentine is a professor in the Counseling and Human Development department at the University of Louisville. His academic training is in social psychology (Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001). Dr. Valentine is an internationally renowned expert in the methods of systematic reviewing and meta-analysis. Most of his work involves using, explaining, and seeking to improve systematic review and meta-analytic methods as a means of helping policymakers and practitioners address problems that affect people’s lives. He is the editor, along with Harris Cooper and Larry Hedges, of the Handbook of Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis, 3rd edition, an associate editor for the journal Research Synthesis Methods, on the editorial board of American Psychologist, and is one of the principal investigators of the U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse. He teaches courses in systematic reviewing and meta-analysis, research methods and statistics, and social psychology
Sheila Almaguer is a junior majoring in Interior Design currently in Arts and Science. Some of her research interests include environmental management systems, creative industries, and innovation process. Her goal is to get involved more with the UofL community and successfully get a master in Fine Arts.
Erin McIntosh is a junior undergraduate student in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences. Her research interests include health equity, maternal and child health, and the effects of poverty on first-generation college students from Appalachia.
Mbabazi Alliance is originally from Rwanda and has lived in America for nine years. She is a junior at the University of Louisville in Human Health and Exercise Science. Her interest includes adult healthcare, musical instruments, community involvement and quality time with friends and family. Her goal is earning her bachelor's degree at the University of Louisville.
Kamila Brown is a junior majoring in criminal justice. Some of her research interests are studying financial spending among various populations and helping individuals who had been wrongfully accused. Her goal is to become a criminal defense attorney.
Natalie Mudd is an undergraduate student in the Fostering Academic Resilience (FAR) scholars program. Her research includes spatial memory, college students, mental health, and all things learning.
Abbey Parks is a Master's student in the Counseling Psychology program. Her research interests include the long term impact of child abuse and neglect, interventions for families involved in the child welfare system, and parenting styles impact on children's emotional regulation skills. In Abbey's free time she enjoys playing with her two dogs, Koda and Kylo, hiking, and kayaking.