Episodes

  • Episode 4: Reading and Writing Instruction and Assessment - Dr. Adrea Truckenmiller

    Episode 4: Reading and Writing Instruction and Assessment - Dr. Adrea Truckenmiller
    Jun 30 2026

    In this episode, undergrad Eric Eubank has a conversation with Dr. Adrea Truckenmiller. The two discuss Dr. Truckenmiller's work on the development of novel writing assessment tools, the importance of research on reading and writing within the special education field, and processes of advocacy and implementation.

    About the Guest:

    Dr. Adrea Truckenmiller is an associate professor in the College of Education at Michigan State University, where she conducts research on the component skills underlying reading, writing, and language development as a mechanism for selecting more effective and equitable instruction. Through this research, Dr. Truckenmiller has developed assessment tools such as the Writing Architect and the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, which seek to bridge gaps in instruction, assessment, and intervention.

    Check out the Lab Website: About | Vanderbilt Implementation Research Lab


    For more information on Dr. Truckenmiller's scholarly work, visit these resources:


    Adrea’s team provides research-based and usable interpretations of reading screening that actually informs instruction in effective ways: https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.2274


    Adrea’s team describes the latest findings from the Writing Architect – the best place to start with writing instruction. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10534512251346794

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    24 mins
  • Episode 3: Policy Implementation in Foster Care - Dr. Carrie Mason

    Episode 3: Policy Implementation in Foster Care - Dr. Carrie Mason
    May 28 2026

    In this episode, junior Michelle Sun hosts Dr. Carrie Mason, an attorney and independent consultant who works extensively with the foster care system in Tennessee. They discuss Dr. Mason's work and the implementation of policies that better serve foster youth, including youth aging out of foster care.


    Check out the VIRL lab website: About | Vanderbilt Implementation Research Lab


    For more information on Dr. Carrie Mason's scholarly work, check out these resources:


    Chow, J. C., Wallace, E. S., Senter, R., Kumm, S., & Mason, C. Q. (2022). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the language skills of youth offenders. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_JSLHR-20-00308


    Mason, C.Q, (2016). The social maladjustment exclusion: Leaving a category of students behind and the problem with state and judicial interpretation of congressional intent. UDC Law Review · May 4, 2016. Law Journal Library - HeinOnline.org


    Chow, J. C., Boyle, J., Ramos-Torres, S., Granger, K. L., (2025). Contextual and systems-level factors that influence outcomes for families of students with EBD. In F. E. Obiakor and J. P. Bakken (Eds.), Special Education (Advances in Special Education, Vol. 39). Emerald Publishing Limited. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/S0270-401320250000039003

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    37 mins
  • Episode 2: Parent Coaching and NDBI's - Drs. Lauren Hampton and Hannah Fipp-Rosenfield

    Episode 2: Parent Coaching and NDBI's - Drs. Lauren Hampton and Hannah Fipp-Rosenfield
    Apr 27 2026
    In this episode, we have a chat with Dr. Lauren Hampton and Dr. Hannah Fipp-Rosenfield about their work supporting caregivers implementing naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions or NDBIs. Hosted by one of our lab's undergraduates, sophomore Saylor Mullarkey, and master's student Kelly Cattano, this episode explores the intersection of research and practice by diving into our guests' experiences in speech-language pathology and behavior analysis and the ways this informs their research today. About the Guests: Dr. Lauren Hampton: An associate professor in the Department of Special Education at The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Hampton conducts research surrounding the early identification of communication delays and challenging behaviors, and autism characteristics to optimize the use of parent-mediated interventions for these groups. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Dr. Hampton has experience in many roles within early intervention settings, focusing on collaboration with children and their families. Dr. Hannah Fipp-Rosenfield: Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Little Longhorn and IDEA Research Labs at The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Fipp-Rosenfield's work focuses on applying NDBIs for young autistic children, specifically focusing on the role of parent mediation in this process. Her research stems from her education as a speech-language pathologist and also seeks to engage with community stakeholders to adapt practices surrounding early childhood interventions Check out the website for the Little Longhorn Lab! Little Longhorn LabFollow the Little Longhorn Lab on Instagram! @littlelonghornlabFor more information on this scholarly work, check out these resources:Hampton, L. H., Fall, A. M., Butler, J., Roberts, G., & Noh, Y. (2026). Optimizing Measurement of Communication in Autistic Children and Their Caregivers: Dependability of the Caregiver‐Child Interaction. Autism Research, e70191.Hampton, L. H., Stern, Y. S., Fipp-Rosenfield, H., Bearss, K., & Roberts, M. Y. (2022). Parent-implemented positive behavior support strategies for young children on the autism spectrum: A pilot investigation. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 65(5), 1921–1938. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_JSLHR-21-00361For more information on NDBIs: Theoretical background: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8.pdfLanguage strategies core to NDBI's: https://meadowscenter.org/resource/10-key-policies-and-practices-for-supporting-language-development/AFIRM Modules on Naturalistic Interventions: https://afirm-modules.fpg.unc.edu/Naturalistic-Intervention/content/#/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    17 mins
  • Episode 1 Welcome to our Lab!

    Episode 1 Welcome to our Lab!
    Mar 30 2026

    In this episode, we sit down with three of our lab’s Ph.D. students—Zoe, Phoebe, and Andrew—to learn about the research they conduct, how they hope to see it implemented in practice, and why they do what they do. Hosted by Eric, one of our lab’s undergraduate researchers, we learn how our graduate students’ work impacts VIRL’s work with research implementation and about the journeys that brought them into research.


    Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yc828yn6


    About the guests:

    Phoebe Ahn: With experience as a special education teacher, Phoebe is now a doctoral student in the Department of Special Education. With specific interests in EL students, Phoebe uses research to better understand the ways that students engage with their classroom settings and how this impacts social-emotional well-being to better equip teachers to do the same.


    Andrew Chang: At the time of release, Andrew has now defended his dissertation and received his PhD in Special Education with a minor in quantitative analysis. Andrew focuses on the intersection between statistical modeling and meta-analysis with classroom support in order to compare the efficacy and impact of various interventions in practice.


    Zoe Hussey: As a doctoral student in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Zoe draws upon her experiences as a speech language pathologist to examine the interplay between training and research within school settings and bridge the gaps between these knowledge pools to achieve more cohesive practitioner environments.



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    21 mins