Children in the Susan Gray School work, snack, and play together
Director: Tedra A. Walden, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
Co-Director: Craig Kennedy, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Special Education
Program Assistant: Linda Dupré
This program trains research scientists in the behavioral aspects of mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. The basic goal is to train sophisticated, broadly based, skillful behavioral scientists committed to research on mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. The behavioral manifestation of developmental disabilities, the complex multifaceted interactions between behavioral and biomedical variables, and the increasing prevalence of contributing risk factors strongly support the need for sophisticated research training at the pre- and postdoctoral level. Begun at Peabody College in 1954 with support from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the training program has been continuously for nearly 50 years and has influenced the depth and scope of the field of research on mental retardation and related developmental disabilities.
The training program emphasizes the complex, interdisciplinary nature of contemporary behavioral research in mental retardation and developmental disabilities in several ways: (a) trainees come from the Departments of Psychology and Human Development, Special Education, and Hearing and Speech Sciences; (b) training faculty include research scientists studying a wide range of problems; (c) trainees are immersed in ongoing, collaborative research; (d) through required course work, a continuing proseminar, and a diverse colloquium program, trainees receive a comprehensive introduction to contemporary behavioral research as well as relevant research in the neuro- and biomedical sciences. Trainees are prepared as research scientists capable of working in an interdisciplinary context in universities and medical or research centers. The program has 21 faculty preceptors. Funds support six predoctoral and two postdoctoral trainees.
Click on names below for biosketches of these Kennedy Center researchers
Tedra A. Walden, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
Craig H. Kennedy, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Special Education
Daniel Ashmead, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences and Psychology
Stephen Camarata, Ph.D., Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences and Special Education
David Cole, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
Donald Compton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education
Edward Conture, Ph.D., Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences
Paul R. Dokecki, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
Elisabeth Dykens, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
Douglas Fuchs, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education
Lynn S. Fuchs, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education
Robert Hodapp, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education
Carolyn Hughes, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Special Education
Ann P. Kaiser, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education and Psychology
Kathleen Lane, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education
Wendy L. Stone, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology
Georgene Troseth, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology
Lynn S. Walker, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology
Joseph Wehby, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education
Mark Wolery, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education
Paul J. Yoder, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education
Fellows are selected on the basis of their overall academic excellence and match of interests with program faculty. Predoctoral fellows are admitted through the Departments of Psychology and Human Development, Special Education, or Hearing and Speech Sciences. Apply to either department through the Graduate School. Include a statement of interest in this program in the Personal Statement section of the application. Contact:
Vanderbilt University
The Graduate School
411 Kirkland Hall
Nashville, TN 37240
Postdoctoral applicants should apply directly to the training directors in care of the address below. Send a statement of interest, a curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference to:
Linda Dupré, Program Assistant (615) 322-8253
Vanderbilt University Developmental Disabilities Research Training Program
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
Peabody Box 40
230 Appleton Place
Nashville, TN 37203-5701
Peabody College has been consistently ranked among the top 10 schools of education in the nation by U. S. News and World Report for the past six years, and Special Education within the top 3 nationwide.
Collaborative relationships with the Tennessee Departments of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Education, and Health; with Meharry Medical College; and with county school systems provide additional research opportunities. Center researchers also have collaborative relationships with area early intervention and early childhood education programs, and with programs serving adults with disabilities.