Melissa Cunningham
  NTT Assistant Professor of Psychology

Academic Preparation

Teaching Experience

Research Experience

Clinical/Applied

Publications/Projects
Online Classes Professional Organizations Courses Taught Honors and Awards

Office Hours Psychology Menu Faculty Menu
 

 Office: Todd Hall 338

  Telephone: (503) 751-4204

  Email:  cunningm@wou.edu  

Position:

NTT Assistant Professor of Psychology
Western Oregon University
Monmouth, Oregon 97361

Academic Preparation

    Ph.D. Educational Psychology, Option: School Psychology – In Progress
    Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
    Expected graduation: Fall 2008
   
    M.A. Educational Psychology, Option: School Psychology - May 2005   
    Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
   
    B.S. magna cum laude, Major:  Psychology, Minor: Sociology - June 2002
    Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR



Teaching Experience

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
Educational Psychology Department, August 2004-July 2007
Supervisor:  Jill Stamm, Ph.D.
  * Education Psychology 310: Motivation, Learning, & Evaluation

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
Psychology Department, January 2004 – May 2004
Supervisor:  Patrice Gibbs, Ph.D.
  * Taught lab course in quantitative research methods



Research Experience

    Graduate Research Assistant, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
    Division of Psychology in Education, Summer 2005
    Supervisor: David Wodrich, Ph.D.
*Assisted with literature reviews, data analysis, and publications
   
   
    Graduate Research Assistant, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
    Division of Psychology in Education, Spring 2005
    Supervisor: Sam Green, Ph.D.
* Developed new teacher evaluation forms, conducted item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis for project

    Graduate Research Assistant, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
    Southwest Center for Education Equity, Fall 2003
    Supervisor: Armando Ramirez, M.Ed.
* Developed and implemented workshops to assist minority high school students in the college application process
* Program development and outcome assessment for grant funded program

    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
    Department of Psychology, January to September, 2001 
    Supervisor:  Bob Uttl, Ph.D.
* Administered and scored batteries of psychological tests, organized and maintained data files, statistical analysis of data
* Conducted literature searches and wrote summaries
* Trained new research assistants on test administration
 

 

Publications and Research Projects

Cunningham, M. M. & Wodrich, D. L. (2005, August). The effect of sharing health information on teachers’ production of classroom accommodations. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.

Cunningham, M. M. & Wodrich, D. L. (2006). The effect of sharing health information on teachers’ production of classroom accommodations. Psychology in the Schools, 43, 553-564.

Wodrich, D. L. & Cunningham, M. M. (in press). School-based tertiary and targeted interventions for students with chronic medical conditions: Examples from type 1 diabetes mellitus and epilepsy. Psychology in the Schools.

Dissertation Title: Teachers’ Evaluations and Referral Decisions for Students with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: The Effect of Sharing Health Information (in progress).



Membership in Professional Organizations

American Psychological Association (APA)
National Association of School Psychology (NASP)



Courses Taught

Arizona State University
     Educatonal Psychology
     Quantitative Resesarch Methods


Honors and Awards

    Division of Psychology in Education Student Travel Award,
        Arizona State University, August 2005

    Graduate & Professional Student Assoc. - Conference Presentation Award,
        Arizona State University, May 2005

    Deluch Student Research Award,
        Oregon State University, January 2001

    Presidential Scholarship,
        Oregon State University, 1998-2002




Clinical/Applied Experiene


Internship in School Psychology, Portland Public Schools, Portland OR
Supervisors: Timothy Kopet, Ph.D., Patricia Solomon, Ph.D.
August 2007-June 2008
* Worked with children, families, and school team to evaluate students for special education eligibility from pre-referral to IEP development.
* Consulted with teachers, parents, and school administrators regarding behavioral and academic difficulties in children.
* Provided individual and group counseling for students in grades K-12.

    Practicum in Emotional Disabilities, Scottsdale School District, Scottsdale, AZ
    Supervisor: Kathleen Rahn, M.Ed., NCSP
    August 2006 – May 2007
* Psychological assessments including projective, self-reports, teacher & parent rating scales to assist in diagnosis of emotional disabilities.
* Reported results of psychoeducational evaluations to parents and teachers
* Planned interventions for children with emotional disabilities


    Psychometrist, Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Center, Mesa, AZ
    Supervisor: John Hollebeek, Ph.D.
    June 2006 – January 2007
* Administered and scored psychological and intellectual assessment instruments to incarcerated adolescents and adolescents on probation.

    Practicum in Learning Disabilities, Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, AZ
    Supervisor: Elizabeth Danielson, Ph.D., NCSP
    January 2006 – May 2006
* Conducted intellectual and academic assessments, classroom observations, parent and teacher interviews to assist in diagnosing learning disabilities
* Reported results of psychoeducational evaluations to parents and teachers
* Planned and monitored academic and behavioral interventions   

    Practicum in Preschool Assessment, Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, AZ
    Supervisor: Carol McLean, Ph.D.
    January 2006 – May 2006
* Administered intellectual and academic assessments, classroom observations, kindergarten readiness assessments, parent and teacher interviews to assist in diagnosing children age 2-5 years of age
* Participated in team decision making for kindergarten placement for students
* Consulted with teachers and parents to design behavioral and academic interventions for pre-school age children

    Practicum in Consultation & Interventions, Gilbert Public Schools, Gilbert, AZ
    Supervisor: Ann Neatherton, M.Ed.
    August 2005 – December 2005
* Consulted with teachers and parents regarding behavioral difficulties in school
* Performed academic and behavioral interventions in classroom setting
* Presented workshops for teachers to assist in dealing with difficult behaviors in school settings
   
Career Counselor, Willamette Educational Service District, Dallas High School and Morrison Alternative School, Dallas, OR 
Supervisors:  Ed Dodson and Glen Miller
September 2002 to June 2003
* Identified and enrolled at-risk adolescents in a federal Workforce Investment Act grant program
* Administered and scored career inventories
* Individual and group career counseling