Who’s Who honoree Dan Woodward works with a student at the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities, congratulating him with a “high five.” School Psychology students receive supervised clinical experience at the Center.
Three graduate students in the Baylor School of Education were awarded the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for the 2015-2016 academic year.
• Dr. Yara Farah, December 2015 graduate, Dept. of Educational Psychology — gifted education and measurement
• Laura Phipps, graduate student in School Psychology, Dept. of Educational Psychology
• Dan Woodward, graduate student in School Psychology, Dept. of Educational Psychology
A California native, Farah grew up in Beirut and graduated with a bachelor of arts in elementary education from American University of Beirut in 2009. She earned a master’s in special education from the University of California State University-Northridge. She then came to Baylor University to work with Dr. Susan Johnsen, professor in the school of education Education Department of Psychology whom she describes as her role model.
Farah said she has always been passionate about working with all types of young children.
“I chose to apply and complete my doctoral degree at Baylor to work with Dr. Susan Johnsen,” Farah said. “Before coming to Baylor, I read many of her research articles and books, which triggered my interest, and I specifically contacted her before applying to Baylor.”
Phipps, a School Psychology student originally from Herndon, Va., graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in music business in 2013. Phipps chose Baylor’s School Psychology program because of the unique program features, she said.
As part of her graduate assistantship and as a student on the ABA (applied behavior analysis) track in the School Psychology Program, Phipps works at Baylor’s Clinic for Assessment, Research and Education (CARE), part of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities.
“This field incorporates my curiosity for psychology and human behavior, my value of learning and education, and my love for children — all into one,” Phipps said.
Woodward, who is originally from Overland Park, Kan., graduated from the University of Kansas in 2014 with a bachelor of arts in psychology and a minor in business. He said he chose Baylor for graduate school because of the caring faculty, the campus and all of the opportunities the School Psychology Program offers.
Woodward said he always wanted to go into clinical or counseling psychology, because he enjoys working with people.
“I chose this program in School Psychology because I love how it combines the realms of psychology and education,” Woodward said. “It allows me to work in schools with teachers, students and other faculty.”
—By Taliyah Clark
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