The School Psychology program at Miami University is located in the Department of Educational Psychology in the College of Education, Health, and Society.  The department currently has 23 full-time faculty members in the following six programs of study: Disability Studies, Educational Technology, Learning Sciences and Human Development, School Psychology, Inclusive Special Education, and Instructional Design and Technology. The department offers one Bachelor’s degree licensure program in Special Education, five Master’s degree programs, and an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in School Psychology.

The following four faculty serve in full-time instruction or administrative duties for the School Psychology Program.

Dr. Kristy Brann | Assistant Professor

Dr. Kristy Brann received her M.A. degree in School Psychology from University of Missouri, M.A. in School Counseling from Truman State, and her Ph.D. in School Psychology from University of Missouri. Dr. Brann's interests include universal screening for school mental health and integrating academic and behavioral data in schools. She teaches courses on behavior intervention, school experiences, assessment, and school mental health practicum. Dr. Brann supervises research related to school mental health and collaborates with Miami University's Psychology Department on school mental health initiatives and research.

Contact Information: 513-529-3979 (Office), brannk@MiamiOH.edu

 

Dr. Amity Noltemeyer | Professor | Associate Dean of the Graduate School

Dr. Amity Noltemeyer received her M.S./Ed.S. degrees in School Psychology from Miami University and her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Kent State University. She has experience working as a school psychologist and educational consultant. Dr. Noltemeyer’s interests include Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), equity in school discipline, school climate, and resilience. She has taught courses on consultation, assessment, research, and the role of the school psychologist. Dr. Noltemeyer has previously served as President of the Ohio School Psychologists Association, co-manager of several externally funded grants, and Editor-in-Chief of School Psychology International journal.

Contact Information: 513-529-6632 (Office), anoltemeyer@MiamiOH.edu

 

Dr. Katy Mezher | Associate Clinical Professor | School Psychology Program Coordinator

Dr. Katy Mezher received her M.S. and Ph.D in School Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Kelly O'Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and is a licensed psychologist in the state of Ohio. She also participated in an interdisciplinary training program called LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment and Related Disabilities). Dr. Mezher’s interests include early intervention, autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities, interdisciplinary work, coordination of care, and individual academic and behavior interventions. She has taught 12 courses at Miami, including but not limited to behavior intervention, education of individuals with exceptionalities, assessment, and educational research. She currently serves as the School Psychology Internship Coordinator and the Departmental Graduate Director.

Contact Information: 513.529.2568 (Office), krohnkr@MiamiOH.edu

 

Dr. Sujay Sabnis | Assistant Professor

Dr. Sujay Sabnis received his Ph.D. degree in School Psychology from the University of South Florida. He is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Dr. Sabnis' research interests include critical race theory, critical qualitative methodologies, consultation, and policy analysis in K-12 public education. He teaches courses on consultation, multiculturalism, school experiences, and school psychology practicum.

Contact Information: 513-529-0172 (Office), sabnissv@MiamiOH.edu

 

Dr. Alex Thomas | Professor Emeritus

Dr. Thomas has been an editor of all five volumes of Best Practices in School Psychology, an associate editor of the Journal of School Psychology, and editor of the NASP Communique. He has been President of the National Association of School Psychologists (1986/1987, 1998/1999) and the Ohio School Psychologists Association (1979/1980, 1993/1994). Dr. Thomas is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and has a psychologist license from the Ohio Board of Psychology.

 

Adjunct Faculty

Dr. Randy Siler, Supervisor, School Psychology, Clermont County ESC

Dr. Siler’s education includes a BS in psychology, and an MEd and a PhD in school psychology from the University of Cincinnati.  He also completed coursework at Xavier University to obtain a supervisor’s license and a principal’s license; additionally he is a licensed psychologist with the Ohio Board of Psychology.  Dr. Siler supervises school psychologists, occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), special education teachers, and paraprofessionals assisting special education teachers for the CCESC.  His primary responsibilities include hiring, evaluating, and providing leadership for each group. In addition to school psychologists, OTs, PTs, teachers and assistants/attendants, Dr. Siler provides site supervision of intern school psychologists from multiple universities.  His teaching interests include assessment, intervention and mental health intervention in the school setting, and has co-led the Clermont County Crisis Response Team for the past 25 years.

 

Dr. Briana von Mizener, School Psychologist, Talawanda School District

Dr. von Mizener studied psychology at Miami University and school psychology in Knoxville through the University of Tennessee's NASP and APA accredited program. She has practiced as a school psychologist in Tennessee and Ohio since 2008. Previous and current teaching experiences include courses in educational psychology, human development, learning, behavior, and assessment.

 

Dr. Mona Burts-Beatty, Educational Consultant, Hamilton County Educational Services Center

Dr. Mona Burts-Beatty is an educational consultant through the Ohio Department of Education State Support Team Region 13. She is employed through the Hamilton County Educational Service Center (HCESC), where she has spent the first 15 years of her career using her knowledge and skills, acquired as a school psychologist, across various educational environments such as: preschool through high school, private and public school settings, separate education and mental health facilities, and detention centers. Dr. Burts-Beatty has spent the last 6 years of her career as a state consultant where she uses her skill set to improve systemic educational structures to improve the outcomes of students and families at the state, district and building level.  Some of her work includes but is not limited to: strategic improvement support and planning (Ohio Improvement Process), Positive Behavioral Intervention Support (PBIS), Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning (FBA/BIP), compliance (state comprehensive and on site reviews, state complaints, special education, evaluations, individualized education plans, and transitions), consultation and data analysis, progress monitoring, etc.).  She also serves on state work groups (e.g., compliance team, PBIS network, Tier 3 work group, and Regional Literacy Team) and is an adjunct instructor/guest lecturer at both Xavier and Miami University (Oxford and Hamilton Campus), etc.

 

Contributing Faculty

These individuals teach courses in School Psychology Curriculum.

Dr. Jason Abbitt, Chair, Dept. of Educational Psychology

Dr. William Boone, Educational Psychology, Dept. of Educational Psychology

Dr. Kevin Bush, Educational Psychology, Dept. of Educational Psychology

Dr. Darrel Davis, Educational Psychology, Dept. of Educational Psychology

Dr. Haley Shae, Educational Psychology, Dept. of Educational Psychology

Dr. Aimin Wang, Educational Psychology, Dept. of Educational Psychology

Dr. Leah Wasburn-Moses, Inclusive Special Education, Dept. of Educational Psychology

Dr. Sarah Watt, Graduate Special Education, Dept. of Educational Psychology

 

The following individuals in other departments at Miami engaged in research with School Psychology students:

Dr. Paul Flaspohler, Psychology, Dept. of Psychology

Dr. Jennifer Green, Psychology, Dept. of Psychology

Dr. Anthony James, Dept. of Family Studies and Social Work

Dr. Aaron Luebbe, Psychology, Dept. of Psychology

Dr. Cricket Meehan, Psychology, Dept. of Psychology

Dr. Joel Malin, Dept. of Educational Leadership