Q&A: Do Your Joints Sound Like Rice Krispies? This UVA Expert Explains Why From knuckle cracking to knee popping, the human body’s joint music is a natural thing – and no reason to stop exercising or moving, a University of Virginia expert says.

Snap, crackle, pop... is that your breakfast or your knees?

Susan Saliba, kinesiology professor and co-director of the Exercise and Sports Injury Laboratory, explains why joints make noise — and when it’s time to see a doctor.

Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

Students Don't Think School Matches Their Life Goals. How Can We Fix That? (Opinion) Disengagement is not solved by overstuffed standards, tests, and pacing guides.

Former UVA EHD dean Robert C. Pianta says education policy should prioritize student engagement and strong teacher-student connections — not just standards and testing.

More via @edweek.org: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Following Curiosity: UVA Doctoral Student Earns Top Child Psychology Fellowship How UVA doctoral student Natalie Hutchins turned an academic detour into award-winning work on what motivates children to learn.

UVA doctoral student Natalie Hutchins turned an academic detour into award-winning work on what motivates children to learn. Now, she’s earned the prestigious Koppitz Fellowship — one of just five awarded nationwide. Congratulations, Natalie!

Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

What does student curiosity look like in real time?

UVA EHD’s Research in Education and Learning (REAL) Lab is stepping into real classrooms to find out, studying how everyday teaching practices can spark (or stall) curiosity.

Read more via @CBS19News:
www.cbs19news.com/news/uvas-re...

Better together! Our faculty are joining forces with colleagues across Grounds on two inaugural UVA Research Hubs and five new 3Cavaliers projects.

From AI in early childhood to heart health, see how we’re collaborating to solve complex challenges: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

EdLab Podcast: What is AI Literacy and How Can We Improve It? Natasha Heny, who serves as a UVA AI guide, helps us define what artificial intelligence literacy is and offers tips to help us improve it.

What is AI literacy? And why does it matter?

On the latest EdLab podcast, Associate Professor Natasha Heny breaks down common fears about AI and shares practical ways to build your understanding.

🎧 Listen: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

UVA School of Education and Human Development Maintains No. 6 Spot in U.S. News Rankings UVA EHD remained at No. 6 in the latest annual rankings of the best graduate schools of education, earning a top 10 spot for the third consecutive year.

📣 Just announced: UVA School of Education and Human Development remains No. 6 in the nation in the latest U.S. News graduate education rankings — our third consecutive year in the top 10 and now No. 3 among public universities.

Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

Val Ackerman on the Future of College Athletics The Big East commissioner and UVA alumna reflects on leadership and the evolving landscape of intercollegiate sports as part of the Higher Education Speaker Series.

“We’re living in a very different reality than we were 5 years ago.”

Big East Commissioner and UVA alumna Val Ackerman joined us to discuss the shifting landscape of college athletics, from NIL to mental health.

Read more on her talk: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

We Train Teachers to Deliver SEL. They Should Also Know How to Live It (Opinion) Researchers share three practical moves that educators can start doing right now.

How do we fix teacher burnout? A new piece in @edweek.org by UVA EHD's Patricia Jennings highlights the value of adult social-emotional learning and the "Learn it, Live it, Teach it" model. www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Designing Belonging: Mariana Souto-Manning Delivers 2026 Ridley Lecture The nationally recognized scholar and educator explored how schools and universities can shape belonging through daily choices about learning, relationships, and support.

Earlier this month, Mariana Souto-Manning, president of Erikson Institute, delivered UVA EHD's annual Walter N. Ridley Lecture, inviting us to rethink how institutions shape belonging.

Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

From Planning to Presenting: Students are Ready for the 2026 Hunter Student Research Conference Undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students will gather Friday to share and learn about the research they are conducting in education and human development.

The 2026 Hunter Student Research Conference is tomorrow!

Want a look at the people behind the event? We spoke with the student planning committee about the importance of student research and the journey to tomorrow's showcase.

Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

Building Scientists in Charlottesville: Inside the UVA Innovation Hub The award-winning partnership between the city schools and UVA’s School of Education and Human Development expands its innovative learning model into the community.

Through the Innovation Hub, a partnership between Charlottesville City Schools and UVA EHD, Charlottesville 7th graders brought science to life at UVA last week with their “bio bots” — animal models powered by microcontrollers, LEDs & sensors.

Learn more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

UVA Education & Human Development Giving Week 2026 I'm proud to support the UVA School of Education and Human Development during its Giving Week!

EHD Giving Week starts TODAY! 🎉

Support the students, faculty & alumni making a difference every day — and double your impact. All gifts matched up to $25,000.

Join us and give today: www.givecampus.com/s/78q2lr

All Groan Up: UVA Expert Explains the Sounds of Middle Age The middle-aged groan is natural as bodies age and muscles weaken, but a UVA School of Education and Human Development expert says there is help.

Why do we grunt or groan as we move, especially as we get older? According to UVA EHD's Susan Saliba, it's actually our body's way of projecting itself from injury. (Also: physical therapy can help.) education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

Bethany A. Bell Bethany A. Bell's career is rooted in impactful teaching, multidisciplinary research, and team science. The three pillars of her multidisciplinary research agenda are: (1) to expand the methodological...

Congrats to Bethany A. Bell on her election as Vice President for Division D (Measurement and Research Methodologies) of the American Educational Research Association!

A well-deserved recognition of her leadership and impact in the field.👏 education.virginia.edu/about/direct...

‘Come on in’: What Teacher Home Visits Mean for Families UVA education researchers say good things can happen when teachers visit their students’ homes. Now they want to know what those visits mean for families.

UVA education researchers say good things can happen when teachers visit their students’ homes. With a new grant, they are exploring what those visits mean for families.

🔗Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

Episode 257 | Rehearsing Reality through AI: How Simulations Build Better Teachingl YouTube video by Silver Lining for Learning

After hearing a talk at UVA about simulation in education, professor Julie Cohen was inspired to rethink how simulation could transform teaching.

Years later, she joins the speaker from that talk to reflect on what it brought about.

🎧 Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIMS...

Q&A: What Should Parents Know About Kids and Social Media? A UVA expert says limiting kids’ access to social media should be offset with supportive activities.

What should parents know about kids and social media?

In this Q&A, UVA EHD expert Nancy L. Deutsch discusses the impact of social media on the teen brain and why limits should be paired with real-world activities and digital literacy.

Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

UVA Cited as ‘Most Productive’ Institution for School Climate Research In a paper reviewing 60 years of school climate research, University of Virginia scholars published the most journal articles on the topic.

A study analyzing 60+ years of school climate research ranked UVA the No. 1 most productive institution in the field, highlighting work by UVA EHD Professors Tim Konold, Catherine Bradshaw, and Dewey Cornell.

Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

EdLab Podcast: Pathways to Become a Teacher Back to the Lab! Today we are revisiting one of our most popular episodes from season one of EdLab, a conversation with our director of teacher education, Jillian McGraw.

🎧 Back to the Lab!

We’re revisiting one of our most popular Season 1 episodes of the EdLab podcast with Jillian McGraw, director of UVA’s teacher education program.

Listen to learn about the many pathways into the classroom: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

Precision Decisions Advanced MRI imaging and computational modeling are transforming treatment for children with speech disorders--reducing surgeries and improving outcomes.

Using advanced MRI imaging + computational modeling, Assistant Professor Kazlin Mason is pioneering a new treatment approach for children with speech disorders — reducing surgeries and improving outcomes.

Read more: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

This UVA Student Wants Virginia Kids and Teens to Get the Help They Need First-year student William Mount partners with the Shiela C. Johnson Center to expand the reach of his nonprofit organization, Free2Talk.

Through its partnership with UVA EHD’s Sheila C. Johnson Center for Clinical Services, Free2Talk, founded by UVA first-year William Mount, has provided more than 500 hours and nearly $50,000 in subsidized speech and mental health therapy. education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

Q&A: Building More Inclusive Classrooms With Responsible AI Assistant Professor Hakeoung Hannah Lee studies how technology can help educators and researchers better understand — and improve — learning environments for all students.

Meet Assistant Professor Hakeoung Hannah Lee, who joined UVA EHD in 2025.

Her research explores how responsible AI can help educators and researchers better understand and improve learning environments for all students.

Read the full Q&A: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

Virginia Attorney General to enforce new social media restrictions for minors While Attorney General Jay Jones has pledged to enforce Virginia's social media law, one UVA expert says the problem is much larger.

Virginia’s AG has pledged to enforce new social media limits for minors. Will it work? UVA EHD professor Nancy Deutsch says that real success may come from working with teens to regulate social media with reasonable limits.

Read more from 29 News WVIR: www.29news.com/2026/02/18/v...

Q&A: The Huge Need for Afterschool Programs in America Two Youth-Nex researchers weigh in on the state of afterschool programming and what it means that three in four kids are missing out on them.

Demand for afterschool programs outpaces access nationwide. In a recent Q&A, Ashlee Sjogren & Faith Zabek, research assistant professors at UVA EHD's Youth-Nex research center, discuss the state of afterschool programs and the benefits they have for kids.

🔗 Read more: ow.ly/esf150Ykslk

Porter Enjoying Breakout Season on Mat Redshirt sophomore Gable Porter is 18-6 this season for UVA, which hosts No. 7 Virginia Tech in an ACC dual meet Friday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

Crushing it on and off the mat 💪🤼‍♂️

Shoutout to YSI student-athlete Gable Porter for a breakout year with Virginia Wrestling!

Read more about Gable’s standout season 👇
virginiasports.com/news/2026/02...

🎉 Big news for UVA Kinesiology! Professor Michael Higgins will be inducted into the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Hall of Fame, and Associate Professor Jacob Resch has been named a 2026 NATA Fellow. Congratulations! 👏

🔗 www.nata.org/2026-honors-...

UVA is a top Fulbright producer with 20 awards University of Virginia students and alumni are spread across the globe, teaching and learning as Fulbright Scholars.

Congrats to alumna Caroline Silvera & doctoral student Aria Willis on receiving Fulbright awards! 🌍👏 They’re among 20 UVA students & recent grads chosen this year to teach, study, or research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Read more: news.virginia.edu/content/uva-...

Q&A: Connecting Research to Education Policy The EdPolicyWorks research center is creating opportunities for students to hear how research impacts policy in the real world.

How does evidence become policy?

At EdPolicyWorks — a partnership between @uvaehd.bsky.social & @uvabatten.bsky.social — students learn directly from education policymakers working to put research into action. Director Allison Atteberry on why this matters: education.virginia.edu/news-stories...

What Virginia families lose when research funding becomes politicized | Guest column Vanishing clinical programs in Kenya are a sign of America’s wavering commitment to autism — and to medical science — at home and abroad, these columnists write. If research decisions and support shif...

UVA EHD professors James Soland and Mandy Rispoli are advancing autism research in Kenya and bringing powerful lessons back to the U.S. In a new op-ed for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, they share why global research matters & caution against the politicization of science. richmond.com/opinion/colu...