UVA School of Education & Human Development

06/09/2026

UVA has the highest percentage of new inventors who are women of any university in the country, according to a recent study.

UVA EHD's Kim Wilkens said one of the things she finds most powerful about the University’s approach to entrepreneurship is the connection between research, education, and community. Wilkens is the founder of Tech-Girls, a founding board member of Charlottesville Women in Tech, and co-founder of Roversa Robotics.

“When students, especially women, see pathways from learning to real-world impact, whether through invention, entrepreneurship, or community partnerships, it changes how they see themselves and what’s possible,” she said.

Read more from University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group in the comments!

06/09/2026

The University of Virginia announced Friday a $43.4 million gift to the UVA School of Education & Human Development, an investment that positions UVA to join local partners in bringing to fruition an early childhood learning center in Charlottesville.

The gift from UVA alumni Kathleen and David LaCross is the largest in the Education School’s history. https://uvatoday.me/4unR9cG

06/08/2026

Mental health experts are reporting a surge in 'lunch shaming,' where students take and share unflattering photos of peers eating.

According to research from UVA EHD's Catherine Bradshaw, 14% of elementary and 18% of middle and high school students reported cafeteria bullying in the past month. School cafeterias are especially vulnerable to bullying because they typically have less adult supervision than classrooms, she shared with The Wall Street Journal.

"Catching people doing embarrassing things has been going on for some time, and this is the more recent iteration of that," she said.

Read more:

Snapping photos of students eating leads to embarrassment and isolation.

06/05/2026

We're thrilled to announce a $43.4 million gift to the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development, an investment that positions UVA to join local partners in bringing to fruition an early childhood learning center in Charlottesville.

“Kathy and David LaCross have made an extraordinary investment in quality early childhood education in Charlottesville,” Dean Stephanie Rowley said. “We are deeply grateful for their generosity and for our community partners whose ideas, expertise and leadership have shaped this vision from the very beginning.”

Read more at the link in the comments.

06/04/2026

When twin sisters Sydney Hopkins and Morgan Cockram left Patrick Springs, Virginia, for college, they always imagined returning home one day.

Today, they are working side by side in the same schools they once attended to support children with autism, developmental disabilities, speech and language impairments, and other complex needs — helping fill a critical gap in specialized care in rural Southwest Virginia.

Their path was strengthened through Blue Ridge LEND, a collaboration between the University of Virginia, Mary Baldwin University, and other key partners across the region, that prepares professionals to work across disciplines and improve outcomes for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

“It really helped me learn that you can’t do this on your own,” Cockram said. “You have to rely on other professionals, and they might bring something to the table that you never would have thought about on your own. I feel like that’s really helped me in my career now to be able to successfully communicate and collaborate with all those people to see what’s best for our students."

Read their story at the link in the comments!

Patrick County Public Schools

06/03/2026

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Michaela DuBay and Professor Martin Block, recipients of the University of Virginia All-University Teaching Award!

This honor recognizes faculty members who demonstrate excellence in teaching and make significant contributions to education and student development.

👏 Join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved recognition!

06/03/2026

At this year’s Rec ’N’ Roll event, UVA students had the opportunity to experience adaptive sports firsthand, including wheelchair basketball, tennis, and pickleball, as well as blind soccer.

The event also connected students with community organizations and para-athletes, helping them discover new opportunities to stay involved in adaptive sport and recreation.

Read the full story from Cville Right Now:

"Rec 'n' Roll" gave students the opportunity to try out adaptive sports like wheelchair basketball and blind soccer.

06/02/2026

Fifty years ago, a group of dedicated alumni and supporters came together to strengthen the UVA School of Education and Human Development through philanthropy and partnership.

Today, the EHD Foundation has helped generate more than $282 million in support of students, faculty, research, scholarships, and transformative initiatives across the school. At a recent celebration held at the Fralin Museum of Art, alumni, former deans, Foundation leaders, faculty, and friends gathered to reflect on five decades of impact and look ahead to what's next.

Thank you to the generations of donors, volunteers, and advocates who have helped make this milestone possible!

05/28/2026

Roughly 1 in 5 people are neurodiverse — yet many workplaces still aren’t designed with neurodiversity in mind.

"People oftentimes struggle at work, not due to a lack of ability to do the work, but due to a lack of understanding by employers and colleagues," says UVA EHD's Rose Nevill, who directs the UVA Neurodevelopmental Research Core.

Read the full story and explore practical tips for employers and teams here:

About 1 in 5 people are neurodiverse, yet UVA professor Rose Nevill says workplaces still fall short in supporting them.

05/27/2026

🎓A milestone moment for one UVA School of Education and Human Development family.

This spring, Mandy Flores-Curley and her daughter, Emily Flores, celebrated graduation together at UVA EHD — Mandy earning her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction, and Emily earning her Master of Teaching degree in elementary education.

For both women, teaching is a family legacy.

Emily says watching her mother build meaningful relationships with students inspired her own path to the classroom. And at April’s Teacher Pinning Ceremony, Mandy reflected on the joy of watching her daughter begin her teaching journey: “While everyone was watching a young woman, I saw her as the little girl who was always ready to help mommy get her classroom ready.”

Now, Emily begins her career in the classroom inspired by her mother’s example. “If I can make even a fraction of the impact my mom has made, I will know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be," she said.

Congratulations, Mandy and Emily! 💙🧡